Geologist Career Profile | Career Advice and Help Australia CareerNav

Geologist *

Last modified: November 07, 2011, 01:25 PM

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This is an ideal career for analytical thinkers. A geologist is someone who studies or works with rocks. You are responsible for keeping up the supply of the materials that create just about everything we use in everyday life.

Typical Career Progression

	Position	Remuneration	Experience	Education
Start Position	Graduate/Junior Geologist	$70,000 to $80,000	0	Bachelor of Science (Hons)
1st Promotion	Geologist	$80,000 to $120,000	2-5 years	Bachelor of Science (Hons)
2nd Promotion	Senior Geologist	$120,000 to $150,000	5-10 years	Masters or PhD
3rd Promotion	Principal Geologist	$150,000 to $200,000	10+ years	Masters or PhD
4th Promotion	Explorer Manager/Geological Manager	$200,000+	10+ years	Masters or PhD
5th Promotion	Managing Director	$250,000+	10+ years	Masters or PhD

**The above table should be used as a guide only

Typical accountabilities and responsibilities

Graduate/Junior Geologist	Mapping work, part of a project team, general outdoor dirty work in field
Geologist	More independent. More responsibility with direct reports (support staff)
Senior Geologist	Team leader of projects and groups of people – overseeing and managing with administration duties
Principal Geologist	In the office generally, corporate view with responsibility to the investors and company
Exploration Manager/Geological Manager/Mine Manager	Corporate role with responsibility for the direction of the relevant projects, exploration and team management
Managing Director	Makes decisions and direction of all exploration and projects

**The above table should be used as a guide only

Career Path Options & Employment

As an industry focused geologist you can work your way up the corporate ladder within mining and exploration companies both small and large. Your career path can take you from a field-based job to a city-based job. Another alternative is, after a few years experience, to move into consulting. Employment in the minerals industry is cyclical, with more jobs than there are geologists in the boom times resulting in excellent working conditions and high salaries. During down periods many geologists lose their jobs.

Research geologists, on the other hand, face a competitive market and very few positions. The pay is poor, but once a tenured position has been granted it is secure. Government research positions are easier to come by, though there is less freedom in research direction. In these positions, a PhD is almost essential.

About the Author

Helen Degeling

Helen is an Exploration Geologist, with 10 years experience, including several years as a Mine Geologist and as an academic in Canada and Australia. She obtained her PhD in geochemistry from the Australian National University, is a member of the AusIMM, and an Honorary Research Fellow at Monash University in Melbourne. With a diverse background including research on rare earth elements, phosphate minerals and zircon, as well as several years working in gold and copper, she has a number of peer-reviewed publications, and has been an invited speaker at international conferences.