Geochemistry is a versatile degree that can lead to jobs and careers in many different areas. Visit the department website, watch the videos below, or scroll down and select an option under Related Career Fields to see more information about potential careers you can pursue.
Geochemistry
Related Career Fields
Select a career field below to see some of the various areas it encompasses, types of employers, and some sample occupations.
Energy
Career Areas
- Stratigraphy
- Sedimentology
- Structural Geology
- Geophysics
- Economic Geology
- Geomorphology
- Paleontology
- Fossil Energy
Employers
- Petroleum industry: oil and gas exploration, production, storage, and waste disposal facilities
- Independent drilling companies
- Federal government agencies: Department of Energy, Bureau of Land Management
- State government
- Private companies
- Consulting firms
- Equipment suppliers
General Information
- Gain knowledge of computer modeling and Global Positioning System (GPS). Both are used to locate deposits.
- Oil and gas deposits are found in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, California, off-shore sites or overseas in oil-producing countries.
- This industry is subject to fluctuations so be prepared to work on a contract basis.
- Develop excellent writing skills to publish reports and to solidify grants from government, industry, and private foundations.
- Obtain management and leadership experience to manage projects.
Minerals
Career Areas
- Mining Geology
- Mineralogy
- Economic Geology
- Paleontology
- Stratigraphy
- Sedimentology
- Crystallography
- Environmental Remediation
- Research and Development
- Analysis and Testing
Employers
- Mining companies
- Consulting firms
- Federal government agencies: Bureau of Mines, Office of Surface Mining, Bureau of Land Management
- Coal companies
- Well services and drilling companies
- Construction firms
- Quarries
- Railroad companies
- Research in laboratories and organizations
- Industries such as mining, electronics, and synthetic materials
General Information
- Become familiar with environmental regulations and government permit issues.
- Computer literacy is essential for the computerized Geologic Block Model.
Landscape
Career Areas
- Environmental Geology
- Sedimentology
- Hydrology
- Geomagnetism
- Earth Surface Dynamics
- Coastal and Marine Geology
Employers
- Federal government agencies including:
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Forest Service
- Army Corps of Engineers
- US Geological Survey
- Bureau of Land Management
- Department of Defense
General Information
- Obtain a high degree of lab experience.
- Develop excellent written and public speaking skills.
- Gain a thorough understanding of federal and state government guidelines for the management of solid, liquid, and gaseous state.
- Consider a law degree for work with land-use laws and legal matters.
Geologic Mapping
Employers
- Federal government agencies including:
- NASA
- US Geological Survey
General Information
- Obtain excellent computer and technical skills because such mapping is now digitized.
- Gain experience in surveying through internships or academic opportunities.
Astrogeology and Space Sciences
Employers
- Federal government agencies including:
- NASA
- US Geological Survey
General Information
- Work in this area often requires many years of experience and developed research. A Ph.D. is often required.
- Develop extraordinary analytical writing skills for grant writing and research.
Hazards - Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Landslides, Floods
Career Areas
- Seismology
- Tectonophysics
- Geomagnetism
- Global Seismic Networks
Employers
- Federal government agencies including:
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- US Geological Survey
- Department of Defense
- Private research groups and foundations
General Information
- Gain experience in technical mapping such as digital terrain modeling.
- Gain some knowledge in engineering.
- Develop presentation and writing skills.
Education
Career Areas
- Teaching
- Research
- Administration
Employers
- Elementary/secondary public or private schools
- Colleges and universities
- Museums
General Information
- Obtain certification/licensing for public school teaching.
- Obtain a Ph.D. for higher education and/or advanced research and administrative positions.
- Develop grant writing skills.
- Become familiar with Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Join Organizations
Being active in both student and professional organizations can help boost your career. You'll have the opportunity to network with and learn from peers, mentors, and professionals. Working within these groups helps build leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. You'll gain hands-on experience, showing employers your proactive attitude and commitment to growth, making you a stronger job candidate.
Student Organizations
Check out the organizations listed below, search Laker Life, or talk with a Career Coach to find others.
Search for Employers
General Guidelines and Strategies
- Gaining experience is very important and there are many opportunities for students to obtain volunteer, part-time, summer, internship, and/or co-op experiences in different geographical fields.
- A bachelor's degree may be sufficient for entry-level industry positions.
- A master's degree is often preferred for state survey work and advancement in industry and government.
- Employment prospects are best for those with master's degrees, familiarity with advanced technologies such as computer modeling, and willingness to relocate.
- Plan on completing a state exam to become a registered geologist.
- Obtain experience in mapping and surveying. Develop skills with measurement equipment as well as laboratory equipment and processes.
- Join groups directed towards improvement of natural resources, environment, and pollution control.
- Develop exceptional computer skills.
- Join the student branch of the professional organization(s) related to area(s) of interest.
- Learning a foreign language can be beneficial since work may be done in other countries.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential.
- The ability to market your skills and write proposals is necessary to maintain steady work.
- The ability to obtain grants may be necessary to continue a project.
- Find research opportunities with professors and other experts in the field to gain experience.
- Obtain practical experience using various laboratory equipment and high-tech scientific equipment and data.
- Complete an undergraduate research project.
- Consider electives in computer science, engineering, business, public speaking, and writing.
- A solid foundation in analytical, physical, and environmental chemistry is recommended.
- Environmentally related areas such as toxicology, hydrology, and sedimentology will prepare you for a job in environmental geochemistry.
- Gain experience in technical mapping such as digital terrain modeling, as well as engineering.
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