Mining and Geological Engineers and Mining Safety Engineers: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Stan T.Career, Overview

Mining and Geological Engineers

Mining and Geological Engineers conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs.

Salary
$100140
Becoming One
Hard
Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job description

Mining and Geological Engineers and Mining Safety Engineers conduct sub-surface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs.

  • Prepare technical reports for use by mining, engineering, and management personnel.
  • Inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
  • Test air to detect toxic gases and recommend measures to remove them, such as installation of ventilation shafts.
  • Select or develop mineral location, extraction, and production methods, based on factors such as safety, cost, and deposit characteristics.
Read more about what does a Mining and Geological Engineer and Mining Safety Engineer really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$98420 per year

Average hourly wage
$47 per hour


Mining and Geological Engineers with little to no experience tend to make between $54550 and $70290 while the more experienced ones can earn over $122020 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
NM $67 $140,130
CA $59 $123,060
FL $54 $113,200
AK $54 $112,110
CO $52 $108,130

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Mining and Geological Engineer and Mining Safety Engineer is to move to a higher paying state like NM. Right now, the highest paying states for Mining and Geological Engineers are NM, CA, FL, AK and CO.

However, a higher pay at NM doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at NM might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Mining and Geological Engineer and Mining Safety Engineer is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
Bachelor’s degree

We asked other Mining and Geological Engineers what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a Bachelor’s Degree followed by a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Mining and Mineral Engineering
Geological/Geophysical Engineering
Read more about how to become a Mining and Geological Engineer and Mining Safety Engineer and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Mining and Geological Engineer and Mining Safety Engineer.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes to solve problems mentally
Suitable for people who wants job security and a good working condition
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
One of the highest paid careers in the world
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to help and teach others
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week)

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
70%

Is this job meaningful
60%


70% of Mining and Geological Engineers said they were satisfied with their job and 60% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Thinkers and The Builders

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.



Learn more about Mining and Geological Engineers

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Job Description
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Quiz

Related career information

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Civil Engineer, Design Engineer, Engineer, Engineering Manager, Exploration Engineer, Exploration Geologist, Geological Engineer, Geologist, Geophysical Engineer, Mine Analyst

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