Today’s employers seek graduates who are critical thinkers, problem solvers, and communicators. They want their employees to be team players who are willing to learn new skills. Our IUGFS field courses teach the skills employers want most. Our alumni indicate that work at the Field Station made a significant difference to their careers, preparing them with the necessary skills needed for success in the geosciences.
The demand for earth scientists is growing. Several pressures on the domestic market include the rising demand for energy, and the increasing need for clean water resources and associated environmental management. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the 2024 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER), a comprehensive study designed to track and understand employment trends across the energy sector. As the private sector continues to announce major investments in American-made energy spurred by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the 2024 USEER shows that the energy workforce overall added over 250,000 jobs in 2023; 56% of those were in clean energy.
250,000 new jobs
Clean energy employment increased by 142,000 jobs in 2023, accounting for more than half of new energy sector jobs and growing at a rate more than twice as large as that for the rest of the energy sector and the U.S. economy overall.
Our domestic employment outlook is also affected by the increased need for mineral, metal, and energy products in the rapidly developing markets of Asia. In addition, many Earth scientists are nearing retirement, boosting the demand for geoscientists to replace them. A student beginning an Earth science concentration now will be well poised to take advantage of the strong market in the coming years.
Positions in the future will increasingly emphasize the integration of geological data acquisition (from soils, water, and rocks), analysis, synthesis, and response. This is especially true of volcanic and earthquake hazards. In addition, more attention is being given to predicting and mitigating the effects of flooding. This will require a new generation of geologists trained in the quantitative aspects of watershed hydrology, river mechanics and wetland function, and restoration.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual median pay for geoscientists in 2023 was $92,580. The salary you might earn will vary, depending upon the industry. Even more good news: these numbers are likely to increase in the future, because demand for raw materials continues to grow.
Employment of geoscientists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 2,200 openings for geoscientists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The need for energy, environmental protection, and responsible land and resource management is expected to contribute to demand for geoscientists.
Geoscientists will be involved in discovering and developing sites for traditional and alternative energy sources. For example, geoscientists study wind speeds and patterns to determine sites that are suitable for wind turbines. The increased use of and demand for alternative energy should lead to more jobs for these workers.
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