What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians in the U.S. earn more than $53,350 a year — the middle 80% land between $35,770 and $99,560. About 6,980 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians”. (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).
$53,350typical pay / year
6,980people in this work
$99,560+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.
Analysing6
Participate in geological studies
+Join the geology team at Lochridge on Monday to collect 20 stratified core samples, run in-field particle…
Participate in geological studies
+Join the geology team at Lochridge on Monday to collect 20 stratified core samples, run in-field particle size checks, log coordinates, and draft the preliminary methods and results section for the report by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISMicrosoft ExcelESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Participate in geophysical surveys
+Join the geophysical survey team at Pine Ridge tomorrow, record soil resistivity and magnetics at each…
Participate in geophysical surveys
+Join the geophysical survey team at Pine Ridge tomorrow, record soil resistivity and magnetics at each flagged station, log GPS coordinates and instrument settings, note anomalies and send a concise field summary to Jamie and Dr. Olvera by 18:00.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Operate laboratory and field equipment
+Set up the field lab for batch soil tests today, calibrate the conductivity meter and centrifuge, run control…
Operate laboratory and field equipment
+Set up the field lab for batch soil tests today, calibrate the conductivity meter and centrifuge, run control samples, record calibration and sample results in the lab sheet, flag any out-of-range values for review by Senior Technologist Mark.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Work on drill sites
+Attend the drill site on Wellpad 7 at 07:00, collect stratified soil cores every two meters, label and…
Work on drill sites
+Attend the drill site on Wellpad 7 at 07:00, collect stratified soil cores every two meters, label and chain-of-custody each sample, photograph cuttings, and deliver samples to the lab with a written handover to Logistics by 15:00.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCOO*NET
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Assist in determining the value of land for oil or gas exploration
+Help estimate prospect land value by compiling soil survey results for Lease Block C, calculate mean…
Assist in determining the value of land for oil or gas exploration
+Help estimate prospect land value by compiling soil survey results for Lease Block C, calculate mean contaminant loads and bearing capacity indicators, annotate risk notes for the land appraiser and email the summary to Erin and the economics team before Friday midday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESRI ArcGISESCOO*NET
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Carry out research and study samples
+Run the planned sieve and pH series on the archived samples, enter raw measurements, compute particle size…
Carry out research and study samples
+Run the planned sieve and pH series on the archived samples, enter raw measurements, compute particle size distributions and report standard deviations, attach microscopy photos, and draft a short methods-and-results note for Dr. Chen by 10:00 Monday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordESCOjob descriptions
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The daily work14
Collect or prepare solid or fluid samples for analysis.
+Collect surface and borehole soil and water samples at 5 locations along the west transect today, label each…
Collect or prepare solid or fluid samples for analysis.
+Collect surface and borehole soil and water samples at 5 locations along the west transect today, label each vial with GPS coordinates and time, stabilize according to the lab chain-of-custody, and deliver chilled samples to the lab by 4 PM.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Record data from tests and compile information
+Enter the soil test results from the field datasheets for cores 1–10, calculate moisture percent and bulk…
Record data from tests and compile information
+Enter the soil test results from the field datasheets for cores 1–10, calculate moisture percent and bulk density, flag any outliers, and produce a one-page summary table for the project manager by noon tomorrow.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Operate or adjust equipment or apparatus used to obtain geological data.
+Set up the cone penetrometer and vane shear rig at Site B, run three penetration tests to 5 m, record depth,…
Operate or adjust equipment or apparatus used to obtain geological data.
+Set up the cone penetrometer and vane shear rig at Site B, run three penetration tests to 5 m, record depth, blows, and unit resistance, calibrate sensors before the first test, and note any equipment issues in the log.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Interview individuals, and research public databases in order to obtain information.
+Call the landowner and the on-site foreman, confirm access times and recent tillage history, then search…
Interview individuals, and research public databases in order to obtain information.
+Call the landowner and the on-site foreman, confirm access times and recent tillage history, then search county soil survey records and recent site permits to extract past contamination notes for inclusion in the site file.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Assemble, maintain, or distribute information for library or record systems.
+Update the project record by importing new lab reports, scan and index field notebooks, tag each entry with…
Assemble, maintain, or distribute information for library or record systems.
+Update the project record by importing new lab reports, scan and index field notebooks, tag each entry with sample ID and date, and distribute the updated index to the team folder for audit readiness.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Create photographic recordings of information, using equipment.
+Photograph each exposed profile and core sub-samples with a scale and north arrow, capture macro textures and…
Create photographic recordings of information, using equipment.
+Photograph each exposed profile and core sub-samples with a scale and north arrow, capture macro textures and color chips, label images with sample ID and depth, and upload high-resolution images to the project image folder tonight.
The tools that do the workAdobe IllustratorO*NET
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Offer analysis as part of the project
+Draft the laboratory analysis section for the Pine Ridge remediation project, explain sampling methods used,…
Offer analysis as part of the project
+Draft the laboratory analysis section for the Pine Ridge remediation project, explain sampling methods used, present the heavy metals and nutrient results with QA/QC notes, and recommend actions for the client before the July 12 meeting.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelESCO
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Perform technical tasks
+Schedule and document fieldwork for the Pine Ridge site: list sample locations with GPS, describe sampling…
Perform technical tasks
+Schedule and document fieldwork for the Pine Ridge site: list sample locations with GPS, describe sampling procedure and chain-of-custody, log instruments calibrated today, and prepare the materials checklist for the crew departing Tuesday.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISMicrosoft ExcelESCO
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Participate in the evaluation of possible mining locations.
+Evaluate three proposed prospecting sites by comparing borehole logs, surface sample assays and access…
Participate in the evaluation of possible mining locations.
+Evaluate three proposed prospecting sites by comparing borehole logs, surface sample assays and access constraints, score each site for extractive potential and environmental risk, then produce a concise recommendation for the geologist by Thursday noon.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISO*NET
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Assess the environmental impacts of development projects on subsurface materials.
+Assess the subsurface impact of the Riverdale housing development by reviewing soil contaminant assays,…
Assess the environmental impacts of development projects on subsurface materials.
+Assess the subsurface impact of the Riverdale housing development by reviewing soil contaminant assays, groundwater depth logs and planned excavation zones, list required mitigations and a short summary for the planning officer by next Monday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Support in monitoring natural resources like soil, water, and gas
+Set up a monthly monitoring plan for the watershed: specify sample points for soil, surface water and soil…
Support in monitoring natural resources like soil, water, and gas
+Set up a monthly monitoring plan for the watershed: specify sample points for soil, surface water and soil gas, define sampling frequency and QC checks, and prepare the field sheet and data template for the team lead by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Interpret scientific data and determine relevance
+Review the latest lab results and field logs, interpret which variables are statistically significant for…
Interpret scientific data and determine relevance
+Review the latest lab results and field logs, interpret which variables are statistically significant for contamination, summarise relevance to the remedial objectives and recommend three follow-up tests for the project manager by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Work outdoors in remote locations for data collection
+Plan the two-week remote field campaign: list daily sampling locations with GPS routes, safety checks,…
Work outdoors in remote locations for data collection
+Plan the two-week remote field campaign: list daily sampling locations with GPS routes, safety checks, equipment and sample chain-of-custody steps, and send the final itinerary to the operations supervisor 48 hours before deployment.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISjob descriptions
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Collect materials
+Collect representative soil and sediment samples at ten identified points, record depth, moisture and photo…
Collect materials
+Collect representative soil and sediment samples at ten identified points, record depth, moisture and photo evidence for each sample, label and package them to lab chain-of-custody standards and hand them to the courier same day.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCO
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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