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Seismologist

Seismologists study shock waves created by earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. They also work in oil, gas and minerals exploration.

Annual Salary

£24,000 to £50,000

Average UK salary in 2024 was £37,430
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

37 to 42 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends; occasionally

3.2%
Future employment

There will be 3.2% more Seismologist jobs in 2029.

Day to day tasks

As a seismologist, you could:

  • monitor and analyse data from seismic sensors around the world
  • map seismic regions and fault lines in the Earth's surface
  • develop early warning systems for earthquake zones
  • produce surveys for mining, engineering and energy companies
  • supervise students on field trips
  • train professionals working in related fields like disaster risk reduction

Working environment

You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.

You could work at a research facility, at a university or in a laboratory.

Your working environment may be physically active, outdoors in all weathers and you may spend nights away from home.

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • working towards this role
University

You can do a degree or postgraduate qualification in:

  • geology
  • geography
  • Earth science
  • geophysics
  • environmental science
  • computer science

Many employers will expect you to be working towards a PhD on a relevant research project.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including a science, for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • finance for postgraduate courses|https://www.gov.uk/funding-for-postgraduate-study
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
Work

You could start as a PhD research assistant, for example in a university Earth sciences or geophysics engineering department. With further training and experience you could become a seismologist.

More information

Further information

You can discover more about working in seismology from The Geological Society and the British Geological Survey.

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You could become a project co-ordinator or manager with a seismic research organisation, university or energy company.

In a university post, once you've got experience and published original research, you could become a senior research fellow or professor.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • knowledge of geography
  • science skills
  • maths knowledge
  • analytical thinking skills
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • excellent written communication skills
  • knowledge of physics
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications
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