Also called: Exploration Geologist
Reads rocks, seismic images, and well data to find where oil and gas are trapped.
You study 3D seismic images of buried rock layers, examine rock cores pulled from wells, and pick the exact spot a well should target.
Oil-industry geoscientists earn more than the overall geoscientist median.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Master's in geology is typical in the oil industry.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Geology, Geophysics, Earth Science.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years).
Medium risk for 10 years. AI interprets seismic and well logs faster, so fewer geologists per project; field calls stay human.
Classes: AP Chemistry, Earth science, AP Statistics.
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.