Also called: Exploration Manager, Principal Geologist
Leads a team of geologists deciding where a company should drill or mine.
You review maps, drill cores and 3D models from your team, then argue for or against spending millions on a new well or mine. You also travel to field sites and meet investors and government regulators.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 16 years after high school. Master's in geology plus 10-15 years of experience; Professional Geologist (PG) license.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, On-the-job training. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Geology, Geophysics.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). Geoscientists overall.
Low risk for 10 years. AI summarizes models and data, but million-dollar drill calls, team leadership and regulators stay human.
Classes: Earth science, AP Physics, Speech.
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.