Job profile and remuneration of a Geologist

What does the work of a Geologist entail?

• Most professional geologists spend at least part of their working career doing fieldwork, sometimes in remote areas in difficult conditions. Geologists generally begin by doing fieldwork.

• Hard physical labor, long hours and limited companionship are all part of fieldwork. The geologists have to work on various sites.

• In the oil, mining and quarrying industries Geologists work in exploration, surveying and surface mapping in geologically promising areas of the world, looking for new prospects and working out the size of the reserves.

• In the oil industry geologists log and/or analyse material from test drilling, decide whether to continue testing and decide where to site development wells.

• Experienced geologists generally advance to jobs in offices and laboratories.

• Most oil firms have their own research labs which provide analytical services and theoretical analysis, for example to improve the ways of predicting where oil may be found.

• Geologists in advanced positions usually work regular hours.

• The mining industry employs geologists advising on development and estimating reserves and structural safety.

• In the construction industry engineering geologists advise civil engineers and specialist site investigation consultants on subsurface rock stability.

• Environmental Geologists advise on the suitability of sites for waste disposal and on contaminated land and other man-made hazards.

What is the remuneration offered in Geology?

• At the onset you can expect anything between 15000/- to 25000/- per month.

• It can increase with experience and training.

• Salaries in Government sector offer a decent living style as well as prestige to a Geologist.

• Public sector organizations such as ONGC, HPCL, IOC etc. offer very good perks as well as working conditions to Geologists.