Graduate biologists study the earth or might go on to teach aspiring students about the science.
Graduate geologists commonly hold specialized positions, such as oil company consultant or geoscience professor. These types of jobs require a graduate degree or higher. Lower-paying geology technician positions may only require an associate's degree or certification; however, most geology careers require at least a bachelor's degree. Graduate geologist salaries vary depending on the specialty, skill set, employer type and even the graduate school.
Importance of Graduate Degree
The level of education impacts a geologist's salary significantly. Geologists with a master's of science have a salary ranging from $51,395 to $71,863 a year, according to PayScale. In comparison, those with an undergraduate degree only, such as a bachelor's of science in geology, have a salary ranging from $40,116 to $51,208. According to the Hyper Textbook website, the average salary of geologists who hold a doctorate degree, such as a doctor of earth science, is $80,000.
Skill and Specialty
Graduate geologists commonly hold specialized positions, which affects their pay. According to PayScale, a graduate geologist whose specialty is environmental consulting has a salary ranging from $44,361 to $54,725 a year. Geologists who specialize in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have a salary ranging from $39,923 to $61,634 a year.
Employer Type
The employer type also affects the salary of a graduate geologist. Graduate geologists who become professors at a university or college have a median salary of $89,682, according to PayScale, though professors need to earn a doctorate degree and not just a master's degree. Geologists who are employed by a company have a salary ranging from $43,302 to $63,650. State and local government geologist employees have a salary ranging from $39,849 to $68,259, while federal government geologists have a salary ranging from $43,000 to up to $87,838.
School and Experience
The school where the graduate degree was obtained may also play a part in determining the salary of a geologist. According to PayScale, geologists who graduated from the Colorado School of Mines have a salary ranging from $56,045 to $76,000, while those who graduated from the University of Georgia make $62,288 to $75,135. Experience will also affect salary, those with more generally getting better pay.
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