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What is an assistant geologist and how to become one
Assistant geologists are entry-level geologists that research the planet and natural sites. They can work for academic institutions, construction firms, or local governments. Often, assistant geologists work under the supervision of senior geologists. They perform many of the same tasks as their senior colleagues, such as drawing up site assessments and testing samples from the field. They spend a lot of their time in the laboratory testing samples but are not afraid of getting their hands dirty in the field. Assistant geologists need to know how to use common technologies used in geology, such as GIS (geographic information systems) and GPS. Sometimes, they can specialize in specific kinds of assessments, such as water quality testing or groundwater monitoring.
A bachelor's degree is pretty much required to be an assistant geologist, and some even go on to earn a master's in geology. This is an entry-level position, but if an assistant geologist has some experience as an intern or research assistant they will get hired faster.
Assistant geologists earn an average salary of $97,000 a year. If they work hard and earn a promotion to senior geologist, that salary increases.
What general advice would you give to an Assistant Geologist?
Thomas Monecke
Professor in Economic Geology, Colorado School of Mines
Avg. Salary $109,783
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 5%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.59%
Asian 5.55%
Black or African American 0.89%
Hispanic or Latino 6.33%
Unknown 4.69%
White 81.96%
Genderfemale 27.06%
male 72.94%
Age - 44American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 44Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Assistant Geologist career paths
Key steps to become an assistant geologist
Explore assistant geologist education requirements
Start to develop specific assistant geologist skills
Skills Percentages Site Assessments 41.82% Geotechnical 25.98% GIS 10.85% Groundwater Samples 6.39% GPS 5.72% Complete relevant assistant geologist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assistant geologists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an assistant geologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assistant geologist resumes.Research assistant geologist duties and responsibilities
- Build geological, geophysical and geochemical models for integrate basin modeling, prospect generation, volume estimation and well planning.
- Identify asbestos fibers microscopically in association with construction building material samples.
Prepare your assistant geologist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your assistant geologist resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an assistant geologist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable assistant geologist resume templates
Build a professional assistant geologist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your assistant geologist resume.
Apply for assistant geologist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an assistant geologist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first assistant geologist job
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Average assistant geologist salary
The average assistant geologist salary in the United States is $109,783 per year or $53 per hour. Assistant geologist salaries range between $68,000 and $176,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do assistant geologists rate their job?
Assistant Geologist reviews
Hard to find a job.
not much.
Inconsistent working schedule, have to fight for billable work against other geologists within my company, insanely long hours, travel to mostly unsafe areas.
Combination of field and office work, be able to complete the project from start to end
Low paying job if you work for a small company
Updated January 8, 2025
