Careers & Job Outlook
Geoscience as a Career
A geoscience degree leads to careers in environmental consulting, natural resource exploration (e.g., water, energy and critical minerals), geotechnical engineering, and government agencies like the USGS. Graduates work as geologists, hydrologists, GIS specialists, and environmental scientists, with strong demand in sustainability, hazard management, and data analysis.
Key Career Sectors
- Environmental Consulting & Protection: Environmental geologist, hazardous waste manager, environmental scientist, remediation specialist.
- Natural Resources & Energy: Petroleum geologist, mining engineer, geochemist, sedimentologist, mineralogist.
- Engineering & Construction: Engineering geologist, hydrogeologist, geotechnical specialist (analyzing ground for infrastructure).
- Government & Public Sector: Roles with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), state environmental protection departments, and local planning agencies.
- Research & Education: Paleontologist, volcanologist, university researcher, high school earth science teacher.
- Data & Technology: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technician, remote sensing analyst, climate modeler.
National Job Outlook & Median Pay
The demand for Geoscientists is and will remain strong given the increasing pressure that increasing population numbers place on Earth resources. As a consequence, salaries are appreciable and students who graduate with a good academic background and are willing to work have no problem finding a job in the geoscience field.
Select Roles
- Geoscientists — Median pay: $99,240; growth: 3% (2024–2034).
- Environmental Scientists & Specialists — Median pay: $80,060; growth: 4% (2024–2034).
- Cartographers & Photogrammetrists (GIS mapping) — Median pay: $78,380; growth: 6% (2024–2034).
- Hydrologists — Median pay: $92,060; (replacement demand drives openings).
*US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Outlook Handbook
*Figure: https://profession.americangeosciences.org/research/data/median-salaries/
National Job Outlook & Median Pay
The demand for Geoscientists is and will remain strong given the increasing pressure that increasing population numbers place on Earth resources. As a consequence, salaries are appreciable and students who graduate with a good academic background and are willing to work have no problem finding a job in the geoscience field.
Select Roles
- Geoscientists — Median pay: $99,240; growth: 3% (2024–2034).
- Environmental Scientists & Specialists — Median pay: $80,060; growth: 4% (2024–2034).
- Cartographers & Photogrammetrists (GIS mapping) — Median pay: $78,380; growth: 6% (2024–2034).
- Hydrologists — Median pay: $92,060; (replacement demand drives openings).
*US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Outlook Handbook
*Figure: https://profession.americangeosciences.org/research/data/median-salaries/
Skills Employers Want
- GIS & mapping (ArcGIS, spatial analysis, remote sensing)
- Field methods (sampling, description, GPS/UAS, geophysical, groundwater and surface‑water measurements)
- Data analysis & visualization (QA/QC, reproducible workflows)
- Scientific writing & communication (briefs, maps, presentations)
- Teamwork, project management & safety
- Environmental policy literacy (regulations, permitting)
Why GIS Skills Matter
GIS is embedded across sectors—from environmental monitoring and city planning to conservation and logistics—expanding roles for analysts, developers, and technicians who can turn spatial data into decisions.
Industries Hiring Our Graduates
Environmental consulting • State & federal agencies (WI DNR, USGS) • City/county planning & GIS offices • Energy & engineering firms • Municipal & regional energy/water/mineral resource agencies.
Harrington Hall, Room 215
845 Elmwood Ave
Oshkosh, WI 54901
geology@uwosh.edu
(920) 424-4460
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