Do you love rocks, but you're not sure what to do with your geology or geosciences degree?
Careers with a geology degree can include...
Teaching
Writing
Creating social media
Digging up dinosaurs
Arguing court cases
Advising governments
Designing buildings, public spaces, or even jewelry
...and many more!
From studying geology, you've developed a wide range of skills, which you can apply to an even wider range of jobs! Explore these 4 career path categories for your geology degree.
1. Put your geology knowledge to work
The majority of careers for geology graduates fit into this category. Typically, they involve using your knowledge of earth science to evaluate a situation, interpret it, and make recommendations.
With a bachelor’s degree (and potentially further training/licensing/certification), you can consider these jobs:
Geologist
Environmental geologist, field technician, or consultant: study local land, air, or water conditions and recommend steps for management or improvement
Petroleum geologist: identify the location and size of fossil fuel reserves
Determine the suitability of specific areas for building or other land uses
Gemologist
Evaluate precious gems in jewelry and other decorative objects
Environmental lawyer
With a law degree, argue cases or develop policies on the use of natural resources
With a master's or doctoral degree, you can consider these jobs:
Environmental engineer
Help design infrastructure, usually within a specialty (e.g., geotechnical, sustainability, or mining)
Senior geologist or consultant
Management positions may require both experience and a postgraduate degree
2. Share science knowledge
Some career paths with a geology degree promote a wider understanding of science in general.
Primary/secondary science teacher
Teach geology and other sciences
May require a further degree and/or certification
Design educational exhibits about geology-related topics
May require a further degree
Teach about the natural world, often in an outdoor setting
Specific roles can include park ranger, camp counselor, or naturalist
Quiz
Bryce is graduating soon with a bachelor’s degree in geology. He doesn’t want to do field or lab work anymore, but he is passionate about environmental causes. He’s willing to consider further education. Which path(s) should he investigate most seriously?
3. Advance geoscience research
What if you actually DO want to study rocks all the time? To make geologic discoveries?
With a master’s degree or Ph.D., you can consider:
Gather data (on ROCKS!) in the field
Analyze and interpret data in the lab
Publish findings and advise companies or governments
Conduct research similar to that of a research geoscientist
Teach and mentor university students
If you have a bachelor's degree, you may be able to work with a lead researcher as an associate geologist or technician.
4. Pivot into other industries!
Want to go in a different direction entirely?
You can take your transferable skills beyond direct applications and science advocacy!
Skill: Analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data ⬇️
Make financial decisions based on complicated data
Incorporate knowledge of natural resources such as minerals
Likely requires additional training and/or M.B.A.
Skills: (1) Problem-solving in imperfect conditions AND (2) explanatory and persuasive communication ⬇️
Information technologist or systems administrator
Solve technology problems with imperfect data
Communicate technical information
Quiz
Jade has been working for 2 years as a jr. geologist after her B.S. in geology. She enjoys the tech she uses in her work, but she wants to do more problem-solving. She can't afford more education. Which of these might she consider? Select all that apply:
Who hires geology grads?
Your skills are in demand across many industries, so you can find geoscience jobs in common settings:
Corporate
Academic
Government
Nonprofit
Several large industries employ many geology and geoscience graduates:
Oil, gas, and mining
Environmental and sustainability
Construction
Take Action
With all these possibilities, the next step is to narrow down your options.
Your feedback matters to us.
This Byte helped me better understand the topic.