What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers in the U.S. earn more than $101,920 a year — the middle 80% land between $59,330 and $200,230. About 23,470 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$101,920typical pay / year
23,470people in this work
$200,230+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Analysing3
Plan or conduct surveys and sampling programs
+Produce a detailed survey plan for coastal transects off Monterey Bay: list sampling stations, required CTD…
Plan or conduct surveys and sampling programs
+Produce a detailed survey plan for coastal transects off Monterey Bay: list sampling stations, required CTD casts, plankton net tow depths, crew roles, consumables, and QA steps, then schedule two 10-day cruises in August and October with shore-lab processing workflows.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Examine soils, minerals, rocks, or fossil remains
+Assemble a lab examination protocol for sediment cores: list sample prep steps, thin section and XRD…
Examine soils, minerals, rocks, or fossil remains
+Assemble a lab examination protocol for sediment cores: list sample prep steps, thin section and XRD analyses, mineral identification criteria, reporting format for grain-size and fossil counts, and turn-around times so the analyses finish before the October stratigraphy review.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESRI ArcGISESCOjob descriptions
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Identify risks for natural disasters like earthquakes or mudslides
+Create a hazard-mapping brief that identifies slope instability and seismic risk zones for the Vargas coastal…
Identify risks for natural disasters like earthquakes or mudslides
+Create a hazard-mapping brief that identifies slope instability and seismic risk zones for the Vargas coastal watershed: compile recent bathymetry and slope surveys, define trigger thresholds for landslide alerts, recommend three sensor deployments and a community alert cadence before the November rainy season.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work17
Design geological mine maps, monitor mine structural integrity, or advise and monitor mining crews.
+Produce detailed geological mine maps for the North Eel seafloor lease showing stratigraphic layers, hazard…
Design geological mine maps, monitor mine structural integrity, or advise and monitor mining crews.
+Produce detailed geological mine maps for the North Eel seafloor lease showing stratigraphic layers, hazard zones, and existing borehole locations, then schedule weekly structural integrity checks and a one-page advisory for the diving crew by next Tuesday.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADESRI ArcGISO*NET
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Measure characteristics of the Earth, such as gravity or magnetic fields, using equipment such as seismographs, gravimeters, torsion balances, or magnetometers.
+Deploy the gravimeter and magnetometer logs from Leg 23, process the station data to produce gravity and…
Measure characteristics of the Earth, such as gravity or magnetic fields, using equipment such as seismographs, gravimeters, torsion balances, or magnetometers.
+Deploy the gravimeter and magnetometer logs from Leg 23, process the station data to produce gravity and magnetic anomaly profiles, flag any outliers, and send a signed summary with corrective instrument steps to Chief Scientist Maria by Thursday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Review environmental, historical, or technical reports and publications for accuracy.
+Review the draft impact assessment on dredging near Cape Horn, check every cited survey and sampling method…
Review environmental, historical, or technical reports and publications for accuracy.
+Review the draft impact assessment on dredging near Cape Horn, check every cited survey and sampling method against our field notebooks, correct any misreported salinity or core depth figures, and return annotated pages to Lead Author Jonah within three days.
The tools that do the workAdobe AcrobatO*NET
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Provide advice on the safe siting of new nuclear reactor projects or methods of nuclear waste management.
+Evaluate the proposed reactor coastal intake at Port Sterling for siting risks: map currents, thermal plume…
Provide advice on the safe siting of new nuclear reactor projects or methods of nuclear waste management.
+Evaluate the proposed reactor coastal intake at Port Sterling for siting risks: map currents, thermal plume pathways, and seabed stability, recommend three alternative intake locations with monitoring requirements, and send the advisory to Regulators Emma and the project manager by Monday.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISO*NET
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Review work plans to determine the effectiveness of activities for mitigating soil or groundwater contamination.
+Examine the remediation work plan for the Old Harbor fuel spill, verify the proposed trenching and pump test…
Review work plans to determine the effectiveness of activities for mitigating soil or groundwater contamination.
+Examine the remediation work plan for the Old Harbor fuel spill, verify the proposed trenching and pump test designs will reduce groundwater contaminant spread, list any missing monitoring wells, and email the annotated plan and recommended fixes to Remediation Lead Omar by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeO*NET
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Study historical climate change indicators found in locations, such as ice sheets or rock formations to develop climate change models.
+Compile proxy records from the Ross Ice Core and coastal sediment columns, align timestamps, run a…
Study historical climate change indicators found in locations, such as ice sheets or rock formations to develop climate change models.
+Compile proxy records from the Ross Ice Core and coastal sediment columns, align timestamps, run a preliminary statistical model of past temperature anomalies, and produce a two-page summary of implications for the climate model team by next Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Determine ways to mitigate the negative consequences of mineral dust dispersion.
+Assess recent shipboard aerosol and sediment samples from the North Atlantic, model how mineral dust…
Determine ways to mitigate the negative consequences of mineral dust dispersion.
+Assess recent shipboard aerosol and sediment samples from the North Atlantic, model how mineral dust disperses into surface waters under April wind regimes, and propose three mitigation measures with expected reduction percentages and monitoring protocols within two weeks.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISO*NET
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Identify deposits of construction materials suitable for use as concrete aggregates, road fill, or other applications.
+Survey coastal quarries and nearshore dredge spoil maps, compare grain size and petrographic lab results to…
Identify deposits of construction materials suitable for use as concrete aggregates, road fill, or other applications.
+Survey coastal quarries and nearshore dredge spoil maps, compare grain size and petrographic lab results to ASTM concrete aggregate specs, and deliver a shortlist of sites suitable for aggregate, estimated yields, and contamination risks by next Monday.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISO*NET
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Identify new sources of platinum group elements for industrial applications, such as automotive fuel cells or pollution abatement systems.
+Combine seabed geochemical surveys and magnetometer anomalies from my recent cruise, target areas with…
Identify new sources of platinum group elements for industrial applications, such as automotive fuel cells or pollution abatement systems.
+Combine seabed geochemical surveys and magnetometer anomalies from my recent cruise, target areas with platinum group element enrichments, and produce three prioritized sampling transects with rationale and required lab assays within ten days.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISO*NET
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Locate potential sources of geothermal energy.
+Integrate coastal bathymetry, riverine pollutant loads, and urban heat island maps to identify blue…
Locate potential sources of geothermal energy.
+Integrate coastal bathymetry, riverine pollutant loads, and urban heat island maps to identify blue infrastructure interventions that cut runoff and heat in the city-forested coastal fringe, then recommend three pilot sites with expected impact metrics.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISO*NET
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Research ways to reduce the ecological footprint of increasingly prevalent megacities.
+Plan a two-day coring and CTD cast operation: list drill locations with coordinates, target depths, sample…
Research ways to reduce the ecological footprint of increasingly prevalent megacities.
+Plan a two-day coring and CTD cast operation: list drill locations with coordinates, target depths, sample types and volumes, required instruments and safety checklist, and an on-ship chain-of-custody procedure to start next Monday.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISO*NET
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Sample collection and drilling for data
+Draft the field sampling protocol for sediment and water collection: specify sampling methods, sterile…
Sample collection and drilling for data
+Draft the field sampling protocol for sediment and water collection: specify sampling methods, sterile containers, preservation, sample labels, metadata fields, and the cold-chain and lab intake steps so technicians can execute without ambiguity.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Officejob descriptions
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Classify soils, minerals, rocks, or fossils
+Classify the sediment samples from station Bravo-7: describe grain size, mineral composition, visible…
Classify soils, minerals, rocks, or fossils
+Classify the sediment samples from station Bravo-7: describe grain size, mineral composition, visible fossils, and diagenetic features; assign each to standard marine soil or rock types, note confidence level, and flag samples needing thin section or SEM before Friday.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISjob descriptions
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Plan and develop how water can be supplied to cities and urban areas
+Create a supply plan showing raw source points, treatment steps, conveyance routes, and storage requirements…
Plan and develop how water can be supplied to cities and urban areas
+Create a supply plan showing raw source points, treatment steps, conveyance routes, and storage requirements to deliver potable water to Port Harbor and Eastview by 2030, include demand projections, critical failure modes, and estimated costs for three treatment options.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ProjectESRI ArcGISESCO
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Develop water purification methods
+Design bench-scale purification trials for estuarine feedwater: list target contaminants, proposed unit…
Develop water purification methods
+Design bench-scale purification trials for estuarine feedwater: list target contaminants, proposed unit processes, experimental variables, sampling schedule, instrumentation and QC controls, and success criteria so lab team can start next Monday.
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Operate scientific measuring equipment
+Operate the CTD and multiparameter sondes on the RV Meridian: produce a step-by-step run sheet with…
Operate scientific measuring equipment
+Operate the CTD and multiparameter sondes on the RV Meridian: produce a step-by-step run sheet with calibration checks, deployment depths for transect Alpha, sample IDs, data logging intervals, and immediate QA flags to watch for during the 0600–1800 shift tomorrow.
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Scientific modelling
+Build a regional hydrodynamic model scenario to test pollutant plume dispersion from the river mouth under…
Scientific modelling
+Build a regional hydrodynamic model scenario to test pollutant plume dispersion from the river mouth under spring tide and storm surge: define boundary conditions, mesh resolution, input time series, and three sensitivity runs with summarized expected outputs.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses