Annual Salary
£28,000 to £45,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Maths or STEM or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Maths or STEM or go back to all job sectors
Geoscientists study the Earth's structure and formation above and below ground to explore natural processes and mineral resources.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; away from home
There will be
2.4% more Geoscientist jobs in 2027.
As a geoscientist in the field, you might:
In the laboratory, you could:
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work in a laboratory, in an office or visit sites.
Your working environment may be physically demanding, outdoors in all weathers and you'll travel often.
You can get into this job through:
To work as a professional geoscientist you'll need a degree in a relevant subject. Courses often combine theory with fieldwork and practical training.
Degree subjects include:
It's becoming more common for new entrants to hold or be working towards postgraduate qualifications like an MSc or PhD.
Integrated postgraduate master's qualifications like a MGeol or MSci can be studied at university. These courses include more independent research and are designed to lead directly onto further study like a PhD.
It's useful to get some work experience through an internship or year in industry placement while you are at university. Your university careers service can help you find opportunities.
Organisations like Geology for Global Development also run projects and placements to help you gain skills.
You'll usually need:
If you want to work in geoscience engineering, you could apply to do a Geotechnical Engineer Level 7 Integrated Degree Apprenticeship.
You'll usually need a first degree to apply. Employers look for graduates in subjects like:
You'll usually need:
Experience of specialist geological software and computer modelling packages can be an advantage when you are applying for jobs.
Since many employers of geoscientists operate internationally, extra language skills can also be useful.
You can discover more about careers in geoscience through The Geological Society.
With experience, you could become a senior geoscientist, project manager or consultant. You might also work in higher education research and teaching.
You could apply for chartered status. This demonstrates that you have a high level of knowledge and expertise in your profession. The exact chartership will depend on your job but examples include:Chartered Geologist; Chartered Scientist; Chartered Environmentalist
You can discover more about careers in geoscience through The Geological Society.
You'll need: