What can I do with a geology degree? 🪨 🎓

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.

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

Surveyor

• 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

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

Museum curatorial staff

• Design educational exhibits about geology-related topics

• May require a further degree

Outdoor educator

• Teach about the natural world, often in an outdoor setting

• Specific roles can include park ranger, camp counselor, or naturalist

Science communicator

• Use a range of media to make scientific information accessible to the public

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:

Research geoscientist

• Gather data (on ROCKS!) in the field

• Analyze and interpret data in the lab

• Publish findings and advise companies or governments

Professor

• 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. 

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 ⬇️

Investment banker

• 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

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

With all these possibilities, the next step is to narrow down your options.