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Geological Technicians


Overview

Geological Technicians

Introduction

Geological technicians assist geologists in their studies of the earth's physical makeup and history. This includes the exploration of a wide variety of phenomena, such as mountain uplifting, rock formations, mineral deposition, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. Modern geology is particularly concerned with the exploration for mineral and petroleum deposits in the earth and with minimizing the effects of human-made structures on the environment.

Petroleum technicians are specialized geological technicians who meas...

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$53,300

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Employment Prospects

Good

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Minimum Education Level

Associate's Degree


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Experience

Internship or co-op


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Skills

Computer
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Personality Traits

Organized
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Earnings

Geological and petroleum technicians earned salaries that ranged from less than $28,020 to more than $108,110 in May 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The average salary for these technicians was $53,300.

Salaries for geological technicians working in the petroleum and gas industry vary by state. For example, the DOL reports that technicians in New Mexico earned mean...

Work Environment

Geological technicians frequently work in the field where drilling or testing is occurring. In these situations, aides may spend considerable time outdoors in primitive or rugged conditions. Sometimes this involves camping for several days in a remote location.

Geological technicians who are employed in a laboratory or office generally work regular 40-hour weeks in pleasant conditions. T...

Outlook

In recent years, employment opportunities have been strong for geological technicians due to increasing demand for natural gas and the growing use of fracking technology (which created a large number of new jobs in the United States). The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that employment for geological technicians will grow faster than the average for all careers through 2024.

In t...