Current Trends in the
Geoscience Workforce
Heather Houlton
Christopher Keane
Carolyn Wilson
Where do Geoscientists
Percentage of Geoscience
Degree Recipients
Work?
20%
18%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
19% 18%
Where do Geoscience Degree Recipients Work?
(2006)
14% 13%
6%
5%
4%
4%
4%
4%
2%
Source: AGI Geoscience Workforce Program; data derived from NSF's 2006 SESTAT Restricted Access Files. SESTAT is the Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System.
The use of NSF data does not imply NSF endorsement of the research, research methods, or conclusions contained in this report.
1%
1%
1%
1%
How much
Money
can you earn?
Mean Annual Salaries of Geoscience Professions
(1999-2010)
Engineering Managers
$130,000
Petroleum Engineers
Mean Annual Salary (USD)
$120,000
$110,000
Natural Science Managers
$100,000
Environmental Engineers
$90,000
Atmospheric and Space Scientists
$80,000
Geoscientists
$70,000
Mining and Geological Engineers
$60,000
Hydrologists
$50,000
All Life, Physical, and Social Scientists
$40,000
Environmental Scientists
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Geographers
Source: AGI Gesocience Workforce Program, data derived from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Attrition, Growth and Replacement
in the next 10 years in the U.S.
262,627 geoscience
jobs
today Geoscience
Age Distribution
of Geoscientists
in the Grads Continuing
U.S. Government
(2003-2010)
Percent of Total Geoscientists
~130,000
25% geoscientists expected to retire
72,000 geoscience job growth by 2021 (BLS)
15%
15,000 total
10% new graduates (MS or PhD)
20%
5%
on to Geoscience Careers
Bachelor’s:
30%
2003
Master’s:
2005 43%
Doctorate:
2007 66%
2010
OR
45,000 total
0% new graduates if hiring BS/BA
<30 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65+
Age Group
Net deficit of over 150,000 geoscientists by 2021
Source: AGI Geoscience Workf orce Program. Data derived f rom the Of f ice of Personnel Management f edscope database.
What are geoscience
employers seeking?
•
•
•
•
•
Strong math and problem solving skills
An Understanding of fundamental concepts
Having Flexibility in working environment
Willingness to travel
To proficiently communicate
science concepts
• Having field experience