Also called: Sample Curator, Moon Rock Curator
Protects and studies moon rocks, meteorites, and asteroid dust brought back to Earth.
You work in gloveboxes filled with pure nitrogen, carefully splitting a tiny chip of Moon rock for a scientist's study. You keep records so detailed that every grain's history is known.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Master's or PhD in geology or planetary science.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Geology, Planetary Science, Chemistry.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. AI helps catalog samples; handling moon rocks and asteroid dust in clean labs stays human.
Classes: Earth science, Chemistry, Biology, AP Physics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2042.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.