SOC 17-2151.00

    Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers

    Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites.

    Median pay
    $106,220
    Growth
    +3.8%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    300
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $67,490
    Median
    $106,220
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $169,990
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    6,080 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Mining and geological engineers design safe, efficient sites for extracting underground resources and conducting subsurface surveys. This specialized engineering career offers a high median annual pay of $106,220.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs.

    Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

    What the work is like

    Professionals in this field evaluate potential mining and development sites by conducting subsurface surveys. They design extraction processes, choose equipment, and plan ground support systems to ensure operations are safe, economical, and environmentally sound. A major part of the job involves inspecting underground construction and mining areas for hazardous geological conditions or equipment issues, as well as designing and coordinating safety programs.

    On a daily basis, these engineers work extensively with computers to process and analyze data. They gather and interpret information to solve complex problems and make critical decisions regarding site safety and compliance with standards. Strong communication skills are essential, as they frequently document their findings and explain technical details to supervisors and team members.

    This career appeals to individuals with realistic interests who enjoy practical, hands-on problem-solving. Success in this role requires deep knowledge of engineering, technology, mathematics, physics, and design. Because they oversee safety-critical operations, these engineers must demonstrate high levels of dependability, cautiousness, attention to detail, and stress tolerance.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires a bachelor's degree, which aligns with the O*NET Job Zone 4 classification indicating a need for considerable preparation. Most professionals also enter the field with several years of related work experience. Students preparing for this career generally major in mining and mineral engineering, geological or geophysical engineering, or civil engineering.

    Depending on the location, some states list a professional license for this work. Additionally, engineers can seek voluntary credentials to demonstrate their expertise. For example, the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration offers the Certified Mine Safety Professional certification, which validates an engineer's knowledge of safety practices and hazard prevention in mining environments.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for these engineers is $106,220. Earnings vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10% earning less than $67,490 and the highest 10% earning more than $169,990. There are currently 6,080 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 3.8%, which is as fast as the average for all occupations, resulting in about 300 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    85 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    76 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    9 / 100
    Social (S)
    14 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    29 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    61 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RIC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Working with Computers
    94
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    93
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    87
    Getting Information
    85
    Processing Information
    83
    Analyzing Data or Information
    82
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    82
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    79
    Documenting/Recording Information
    79
    Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
    77
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Critical Thinking
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Speaking
    • Writing
    • Active Listening
    • Mathematics
    • Monitoring
    • Systems Analysis

    Knowledge

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Mathematics
    • English Language
    • Design
    • Production and Processing
    • Administration and Management
    • Administrative
    • Physics
    • Economics and Accounting
    • Computers and Electronics

    Abilities

    • Category Flexibility
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Information Ordering
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Comprehension
    • Written Expression
    • Mathematical Reasoning

    Work styles

    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Attention to Detail
    • Integrity
    • Perseverance
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Leadership Orientation
    • Adaptability

    Also called

    Coal Mine Inspector · Engineer · Exploration Engineer · Field Engineer · Geological Engineer · Geophysical Engineer · Geotechnical Engineer · Geotechnical Project Engineer · Metal Mine Inspector · Mine Analyst

    Career pathway

    From your interests to mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers$106,220 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1University of Arizona Main Campus logo
      University of Arizona Main Campus

      Tucson, AZ · Mining and Mineral Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $120,031
      Median debt
      Not reported
    2. 2Colorado School of Mines logo
      Colorado School of Mines

      Golden, CO · Mining and Mineral Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $88,293
      4 yrs after
      $109,695
      Median debt
      Not reported
    3. 3West Virginia University Main Campus logo
      West Virginia University Main Campus

      Morgantown, WV · Mining and Mineral Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $83,847
      4 yrs after
      $109,619
      Median debt
      Not reported
    4. 4University of California-Berkeley CAL logo
      University of California-Berkeley CAL

      Berkeley, CA · Civil Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $84,461
      4 yrs after
      $108,548
      Median debt
      $11,634
    5. 5
      Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

      New York, NY · Civil Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $108,466
      Median debt
      Not reported
    6. 6Columbia University in the City of New York logo
      Columbia University in the City of New York

      New York, NY · Civil Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $108,246
      Median debt
      Not reported
    7. 7University of Southern California USC logo
      University of Southern California USC

      Los Angeles, CA · Civil Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $81,387
      4 yrs after
      $106,308
      Median debt
      $18,817
    8. 8Santa Clara University logo
      Santa Clara University

      Santa Clara, CA · Civil Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $105,594
      Median debt
      $21,500

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Geological/Geophysical Engineering
    • Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
    • Mining and Mineral Engineering

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    52 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for this career?

    People in this field may work under various titles, including geological engineer, geotechnical project engineer, exploration engineer, or mine analyst. Some specialize in safety and compliance, working as coal mine inspectors or metal mine inspectors.

    What college majors are most relevant to this field?

    The most common college majors that prepare students for this career are mining and mineral engineering, geological/geophysical engineering, and civil engineering. A bachelor's degree in one of these fields is typically required to enter the profession.

    How many job openings are expected for mining and geological engineers?

    The field is projected to grow by 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, which is as fast as the average for all jobs. This growth, along with normal turnover, is expected to result in approximately 300 job openings each year.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    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.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.