Even with the economic slowdown of 2009, Geologist salaries are still up by as much as 50 percent compared to the year 2000.  In fact, average salaries 14 years ago for geologists, which sat at around $53,000, are now in the $83,000 range. Now is a great time to think about becoming a geologist, both for the high salaries, for job security, and for opportunities of advancement.

Great jobs for geologists are abound in the oil & gas industry, but even if you want to go into other fields, salaries are relatively high. Jobs  in the environmental, government and education sectors are also in high demand.

Of course expectations can be high and salaries in this field vary from sector to sector.  Starting salaries in the booming oil & gas sector however show geologists just coming out of school earning upwards of $50,000 per year.  With an average of $83,000 sector-wide, that means that experienced workers are earning in excess of $100,000, sometimes much more. Becoming a geologist does require a college degree, at a minimum a BS.

Those who do decide to take jobs in sectors other than the oil & gas industry may find themselves earning anywhere from 10 to 40 percent less than their counterparts. While data shows higher wages in burgeoning industries, working for government agencies and foundations does often provide for more stable employment.

To become a geologist you will need to earn at least a BS. To further your career however it is suggested that you expand your education. Earning a master's or even a Phd in the field means you can earn your full potential and be among some of the highest paid professionals in the field today.

Right now data shows that somewhere around 3000 undergrads are earning their BS in Geology every year. Even if there was a rush of students moving toward getting there BS in Geology, universities right now have limitations not only with curriculum but with staffing as well. Many institutes of higher learning are asking former professors to come out of retirement to fill these voids.

While there is no magic wand, of course salaries for geologists, especially those in the oil & gas industry, are continuing to rise. Right now, because of the recent oil & gas boom here in the US, and a lack of qualified professionals to fill the job vacancies, salaries are on the rise for most every field in the sector.

Besides needing new talent, older workers are starting to retire, causing demand to increase as supply continues to dwindle. Most experts agree, there's no better time to get into the geology game than now. Most estimates have the current shale boom as going on for 40 years, maybe more, this as new technologies in oil drilling, on top of increasing global demand, mean the US should become the world's largest oil producing country by the end of 2014.  Geologists will play a major role in this endeavor.

There's no better time than now to get on your way in the geology game, and no better place to start than at Brown Book Shop.  Come check out all the great Geology Books at Brown Technical Book Shop.

        

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by Philip Loyd, Brown Editor