Careers in the Geosciences: Exploring Earth's Resources and Protecting the Environment

1. Careers in the Geosciences SAGE 2YC Supporting and Advancing Geoscience Education in Two-year Colleges

2. What do geoscientists do? • Natural resource exploration and production • Environmental assessment and remediation

3. What do geoscientists do? • Natural resource exploration and production • Environmental assessment and remediation • Atmosphere, hydrosphere, and natural hazard observation and forecasting • Earth system investigation and modeling

4. What do geoscientists do? • Natural resource exploration and production • Environmental assessment and remediation • Atmosphere, hydrosphere, and natural hazard observation and forecasting • Earth system investigation and modeling • Education and public outreach • Scientific writing, editing, and multimedia production

5. What do geoscientists do? • Natural resource exploration and production • Environmental assessment and remediation • Atmosphere, hydrosphere, and natural hazard observation and forecasting • Earth system investigation and modeling • Education and public outreach • Scientific writing, editing, and multimedia production • Law, forensics, software development, and public health

6. They work in the field … Environmental scientist downloading data from HOBO weather station Oceanographer sampling water in Puget Sound USGS Geologist Erica Lentz examines a coal seam in West Virginia

7. They work in the lab … NOAA Atmospheric scientist processes global air samples for analysis USGS Volcanologist Allison Payne selects volcanic ash grains for chemical analysis USGS Geochemist analyzes water quality

8. They work in the office … USGS Biogeochemist Lisa Robbins reviews her report on the effects of acidification on coral reefs Volcanologists review seismic data at USGS volcanic hazard operations center in Menlo Park

9. Job Opportunities Based on Degree* * The general case – there are definitely exceptions

10. AS/AAS Jobs in Austin • USGS hydrologic technician • City, county or state environmental technician • College geology lab technician • City geospatial technician • County park ranger

11. BA/BS Jobs in Austin • City or state environmental regulator or manager • City or state natural resource regulator or manager • Public school science teacher • City, county or state geospatial technician or analyst • Broadcast meteorologist • Soil testing lab technician • Consultant with prior government or private-sector experience

12. Starting Salaries Gonzales and Keane (2011) using 2006-2007 statistics; 2005 data from National Association of Colleges and Employers • Associates degrees - technicians • Hydrographic Survey $25,100 • Physical Oceanographic $28,700 • Environmental Monitoring $29,500 • Geological Data & Sampling $31,600

13. Starting Salaries Gonzales and Keane (2011) using 2006-2007 statistics; 2005 data from National Association of Colleges and Employers • Associates degrees - technicians • Hydrographic Survey $25,100 • Physical Oceanographic $28,700 • Environmental Monitoring $29,500 • Geological Data & Sampling $31,600 • Bachelor’s degrees • Environmental and Hydrogeology $31,366 • Environmental Inspector $33,900 • Geology and related sciences $39,365 (2005)

14. Median Income • All geoscientists = $79,160 • Lowest 10% <$41,700 • Middle 50% $54,470 to $113,390 • Highest 10% >$155,430 UCAR http://www.careercornerstone.org/geosciences/geosciearn.htm U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

15. Median Income http://www.careercornerstone.org/geosciences/geosciearn.htm U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics • All geoscientists = $79,160 • Lowest 10% <$41,700 • Middle 50% $54,470 to $113,390 • Highest 10% >$155,430 • By industry: • State government $57,700 • Management, scientific, $62,070 & technical consulting services • Architectural, engineering, $66,770 & related services • Federal Executive Branch $90,220 • Oil and gas extraction $127,560