Geological & Earth Sciences
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Types of Degrees Geological & Earth Sciences Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many geological and earth sciences graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1,878 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 810 |
| Graduate Certificate | 68 |
What Geological & Earth Sciences Majors Need to Know
People with careers related to geology were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.
Knowledge Areas for Geology Majors
Geology majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Skills for Geology Majors
The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to geology:
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Abilities for Geology Majors
Geology majors often go into careers where the following abilities are vital:
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
What Can You Do With a Geological & Earth Sciences Major?
People with a geology degree often go into the following careers:
| Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Professors | 9.9% | $90,860 |
| Chemistry Professors | 9.9% | $79,550 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 14.1% | $91,130 |
| Hydrologists | 10.4% | $79,370 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 9.9% | $123,860 |
| Water Resource Specialists | 9.9% | $123,860 |
Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in Geological & Earth Sciences?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of geology majors is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 61 |
| Black or African American | 42 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 136 |
| White | 1,263 |
| International Students | 245 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 131 |
Geographic Diversity
Geology appeals to people across the globe. About 13.0% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- China
- Saudi Arabia
- India
- Nigeria
- Canada
How Much Do Geological & Earth Sciences Majors Make?
Master’s Degree Starting Salary
The U.S. Department of Education found that students who graduated in 2015-2017 with a master’s degree in geological and earth sciences made a median starting salary of $62,900 per year. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $59,000 (25th percentile) and $66,300 (75th percentile).
One thing to note here is that not all of these people may be working in careers related to geology.
Salaries According to BLS
Geology majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $92,360 to $107,800 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Geological & Earth Sciences
Some careers associated with geology require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.
Find out what the typical degree level is for geology careers below.
| Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Some College Courses | 0.1% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 28.4% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 5.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 37.1% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level. | 1.3% |
| Doctoral Degree | 17.0% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 11.9% |
Online Geological & Earth Sciences Programs
In 2018-2019, 578 schools offered a geology program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
| Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 15 | 0 |
| Certificate (1-2 years) | 6 | 1 |
| Certificate (2-4 Years) | 0 | 0 |
| Associate’s Degree | 114 | 2 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 31 | 4 |
| Post-Baccalaureate | 15 | 0 |
| Master’s Degree | 292 | 5 |
| Post-Master’s | 9 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 196 | 2 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Geological & Earth Sciences Worth It?
The median salary for a geology grad is $101,890 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 155% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,239,800 after 20 years!
Top Ranking Lists for Geological & Earth Sciences
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Majors Related to Geological & Earth Sciences
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to geology.
| Major | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | 5,443 |
| Physics | 3,882 |
| Materials Sciences | 447 |
| Astronomy & Astrophysics | 410 |
| Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology | 394 |
| Other Physical Science | 139 |
| General Physical Sciences | 102 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
- Image Credit: By Kelvinsong under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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