Volcanologists use knowledge of chemistry, physics and geology.
The bubbling magma, eruptive flames, billowing ash clouds and molten lava of volcanoes make them one of the most dramatic and potentially devastating geological phenomena on Earth. Some geoscientists known as volcanologists are dedicated to understanding these forces of nature. They study the processes and underlying formations that constitute formations to try to predict their eruptions and protect those living in their shadow. The salary that a volcanologist receives will be affected by factors like employer type and geographical location.
Average Pay
In May 2010, for the purposes of its survey of employment and salary levels across the country, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics classified volcanologists alongside other geoscience specialists, such as crystallographers and geodesists. It concluded, having gathered wage data from over 30,000 practitioners, that the average yearly pay across the profession was $93,380. The Russellville school district reported that the average salary for a volcanologist is between $30,000 and $90,000, dependent on experience.
Pay by Industry
The majority of volcanologists, like the majority of other geoscientists, work within architectural, engineering and related services. The bureau reports that the average salary in this sector was $80,460. Volcanologists employed as management, scientific or technical consultants earned an average of $73,990, while those involved in support activities for mining received $106,380. The average pay rate within the federal executive branch was listed at $95,580, significantly higher than in state government--$62,880.
Pay by Location
A May 2011 survey by SalaryExpert.com reported that, across certain major cities, volcanologists earned the highest compensation rates in Los Angeles, California, and Atlanta, Georgia--$102,146 and $95,384, respectively. In Charlotte, North Carolina, the average was $76,703, while Phoenix, Arizona, was listed at $70,153. The bureau listed Oklahoma and Texas as the most lucrative states for geoscientists, averaging $129,870 and $125,070, respectively. The rate within Alaska, across all industry sectors, was $103,880, while in Massachusetts it was reported as $102,060. In Pennsylvania, wages averaged $67,860.
Prospects
Volcanology is a small field of employment within the larger field of geoscience and hydrological science. However, volcanologists should benefit from the general trend in employment growth across the profession, with the bureau predicting growth of 18 percent between 2008 and 2018. While funding constraints within government bodies may restrict employment growth there, an increasing focus on environmental management and protection will motivate increases in opportunities throughout the rest of the industry. Volcanologists should, therefore, continue to receive good compensation rates.
Becoming a Volcanologist
An individual wishing to become a volcanologist must undertake several years of post-high school education. Candidates should study the sciences--biology, chemistry, physics--as well as algebra, trigonometry and pre-calculus at high school in preparation for college. Most colleges teach volcanology as part of a geology degree, alongside petrology, geomorphology and remote sensing. A bachelor's degree will enable a candidate to secure an assistant or technician position within volcanology, but to progress, candidates will need a doctoral degree, which typically takes four additional years.
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