Also called: Operations Geologist
Lives at a drilling rig, steering the drill bit through the right rock layer in real time.
You study rock chips coming up from the well every few minutes and watch live sensor data, then tell the directional driller to steer up or down. You might spend two weeks on a rig, then two weeks off.
Day rates for consultants can be high when oil prices are strong.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in geology; rig experience.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Geology.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). Geoscientists overall; oil and gas hiring swings with prices.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Remote geosteering centers and AI now steer many wells; fewer geologists sent to rigs.
Classes: Earth science, AP Physics, 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.