Also called: Forensic Geoscientist
Uses soil, minerals and rocks as clues to solve crimes and settle legal disputes.
You compare mud on a suspect's boots with soil from a crime scene under a microscope, or figure out why a hillside collapsed onto a house for a lawsuit. You may testify in court as an expert witness.
Many forensic geologists are consultants who bill by the hour.
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; forensic training.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Geology, Forensic Science.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). Geoscientists overall; very small specialty.
Low risk for 10 years. Comparing soils and testifying as an expert witness is specialist human work in a tiny field.
Classes: Earth science, Chemistry, Biology.
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.