Careers
Links
- What can I do with an Earth Science degree?
- Career Descriptions
- Salary Expectations (based on the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2019 Edition)
- I'm not an Earth Sciences major... How do Earth Sciences affect my life? Why should I take an Earth Sciences class?
- Who hires Earth Sciences graduates?
- Many of our graduates have participated in our Endowed Undergraduate Internship Program
Oso, Washington
Aerial photos show the community of Oso, Wash., before and after the March 22, 2014 landslide.
Washington is one of the most responsible states at mapping its landslide risks, according to the USGS, and geologists have shown dangers around the Oso area for decades. A 2004 flood-management plan even talked of buying up all the homes in the area to "remove the risk to human life and structures." Instead, the county took action to stabilize the base of an unstable slope — a temporary fix overwhelmed by the huge landslide last month. Read more at NBC News.
Earth Sciences: A Most Valuable Major
According to PayScale's massive compensation database and job growth projections through 2020 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Geology is the 7th most valuable college major in terms of salary and career prospects. They are ranked by median starting pay, median mid-career pay (at least 10 years experience), percentage growth in pay and projected growth of job opportunities.
No. 7: Geology
- Starting Median Pay: $45,300
- Mid-Career Median Pay: $83,300
- Growth In Pay: 84%
- Projected Job Growth: 19.3%
From College Major to Career
The Wall Street Journal created this neat webpage where you can sort college degrees by popularity, median earnings and unemployment rate. We're gratified to see that according to the 2010 U.S. Census data, these fields have low unemployment and good earnings:
- Geological and Geophysical Engineering
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
- Environmental Engineering
- Physical Sciences
- Geosciences
- Oceanography
- Mining and Mineral Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
- Soil Science
- Environmental Science
- Geology and Earth Science
