Skip to main content

What you can do with this Major

Note: Career opportunities for Geoscientists are varied and allow the opportunity to travel nearly anywhere on the planet. Demand for Geoscientists includes positions in government agencies, consulting and engineering firms, education, and private industry. Technically proficient Geoscientists who are skilled communicators are particularly marketable and often have paid opportunities to attend graduate school. Median Annual Salaries of Geoscience Occupations

Career titles for Geoscience majors include:

  • Geologists study the materials, products, and nature of the Earth
  • Hydrogeologists study the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of water
  • Economic Geologists study mineral deposits and find safe ways to dispose of waste from mining activities
  • Engineering Geologists use their knowledge of geology in the construction of roads, dams, and buildings
  • Environmental Geologists study the interaction of the environment and human, working to solve pollution problems
  • Geochemists investigate earth materials, water, and biota from a chemical perspective
  • Geophysicists study the earth using gravity, magnetic, electrical, and seismic methods
  • Glacial Geologists study the physical properties and movement of glaciers
  • Marine Geologists investigate the ocean floor and boundaries
  • Atmospheric Scientists study the Earth's atmosphere
  • Oceanographers investigate oceans, including marine organisms, water properties, and the history of the sea bottom
  • Petroleum Geologists explore the subsurface for oil or gas
  • Petrologists investigate the composition of rocks and their origin
  • Planetary Geologists study planets and their moons
  • Sedimentologists study the origin and deposition of sediments
  • Seismologists study earthquakes and analyze their behavior
  • Soil Scientists study soils and their properties for agricultural productivity
  • Volcanologists investigate the origin of volcanic rocks and the life cycles of volcanoes

The following list represents a few of the kinds of businesses and institutions that employ Geoscience majors:

  • In Industry: petroleum and natural gas companies, mining companies, engineering and environmental consulting firms, and independent research laboratories.
  • In Government Agencies: local, state and federal agencies such as the U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Land Management, Army Corps of Engineers, state water control boards, and state geological surveys.
  • In Educational Institutions: secondary schools, colleges, universities, and museums.

For example, in the state of Wisconsin, these companies have hired our graduates: Consulting Firms such as Robert E. Lee, Foth and Van Dyke, US Dept of Energy, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Nature of the work, conditions, earnings, training & job outlook


Want to know more about the nature of the work, working conditions, earnings, training, and job outlook? Then check out the following websites: · Occupational Outlook Handbook · www.geology.com