# Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

> Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the Earth's internal composition, atmospheres, and oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/geoscientists-except-hydrologists-and-geographers
- SOC code: 19-2042.00
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $101,920 (10th percentile $59,330, 90th percentile $200,230)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.1%
- Openings a year: 1,800
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code IRC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 77 |
| Investigative (I) | 100 |
| Artistic (A) | 29 |
| Social (S) | 21 |
| Enterprising (E) | 11 |
| Conventional (C) | 53 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 92/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 92/100)
- Getting Information (importance 91/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 90/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 87/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 86/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 85/100)
- Processing Information (importance 85/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 84/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 80/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Science, Critical Thinking, Speaking, Writing, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Mathematics, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Geography, Mathematics, Chemistry, English Language, Physics, Computers and Electronics, Engineering and Technology, Education and Training, Administration and Management, Biology

## Also called

Consultant Geologist, Development Geologist, Engineering Geologist, Environmental Geologist, Environmental Protection Geologist, Exploration Geologist, Field Geologist, Geochemist, Geodesist, Geologist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4006) (CIP 4006, 593 colleges)
- Marine Sciences (CIP 3032, 40 colleges)
- Environmental Geosciences (CIP 3041, 17 colleges)
- Earth Systems Science (CIP 3038, 9 colleges)
- Geoarcheaology (CIP 3042, 3 colleges)
- Geobiology (CIP 3043, 1 college)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-oklahoma-norman-campus-main-campus-3007) | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | not reported | $85,207 | $25,142 |
| [The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-main-campus-2764) | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $46,634 | $83,481 | $13,000 |
| [University of California-Los Angeles UCLA](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-los-angeles-ucla-2884) | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | not reported | $79,143 | not reported |
| [Texas A & M University-College Station](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-a-m-university-college-station-2694) | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $51,208 | $74,594 | $17,279 |
| [Texas Tech University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-tech-university-2710) | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | not reported | $74,591 | $27,000 |
| [California State University-Sacramento](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-sacramento-375) | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | not reported | $73,418 | not reported |
| [University of California-Davis](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-davis-2882) | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | not reported | $73,337 | not reported |
| [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona-362) | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | not reported | $73,305 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Hydrologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hydrologists): $96,600 median pay
- [Industrial Ecologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-ecologists): $82,220 median pay
- [Conservation Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/conservation-scientists): $73,010 median pay
- [Soil and Plant Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/soil-and-plant-scientists): $78,850 median pay
- [Geographers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/geographers): $102,040 median pay
- [Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mining-and-geological-engineers-including-mining-safety-engineers): $106,220 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.