Also called: Acoustic Geophysicist
Listens for sounds too low for humans to hear to detect volcanic eruptions, meteors and secret nuclear tests.
You check a network of sensitive microphones spread across the globe, spotting a deep rumble that turns out to be a fireball exploding over the ocean. Some of your work supports the treaty that bans nuclear testing.
Most jobs are at national labs and defense agencies.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 9 years after high school. PhD in geophysics, physics or atmospheric science.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Geophysics, Physics, Atmospheric Science.
Growing about average. Tiny field tied to national security funding.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI detects events in global sensor data; treaty monitoring and research judgment stay human.
Classes: AP Physics C, AP Calculus BC, AP Computer 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.