Uses physics measurements from deep wells to figure out what fluids are in rocks miles underground.
Instruments lowered into a well send back readings of radioactivity, electrical resistance, and sound speed. You turn those squiggly logs into an estimate of how much oil, gas, water, or stored CO2 the rocks can hold.
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, physics, or petroleum engineering.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Geology, Physics, Petroleum Engineering.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). Growth is for geoscientists overall.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI interprets well logs automatically; judging tricky rocks and CO2 storage estimates stay human.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, Earth science.
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.