Also called: Meteorite Curator, Lunar Sample Curator
Protects and studies collections of Moon rocks, meteorites, and asteroid samples.
At NASA's Johnson Space Center or a natural history museum, you handle Apollo moon rocks inside nitrogen-filled cabinets and decide which scientists get samples to study.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 9 years after high school. PhD in geology or planetary science for curator roles.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Geology, Planetary Science, Chemistry.
Growing about average. BLS does not project this specialty separately; rating estimated from related occupations.
Low risk for 10 years. Handling moon rocks in sealed cabinets and deciding who gets samples is careful, trusted human work.
Classes: Earth science, AP Chemistry, AP Physics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 25-4012.
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