Every occupation the official NCES/BLS crosswalk connects to geology programs, with BLS pay, the education each job usually needs, what the work involves, and where to go next.
Geology · CIP 40.06 series · 8 codes · 7 careers · Check one exact major, e.g. 40.0601 Geology/Earth Science, General, in the major to career finder
The official NCES/BLS crosswalk maps geology programs to 7 occupations that such programs typically prepare people for, including Natural Sciences Manager, Geologist and Hydrologist. BLS median pay across them runs from $53,350 (Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians) to $167,220 (Natural Sciences Manager) in May 2025. The crosswalk describes preparation, not what graduates actually go on to do.
Data Program → related occupations: these are jobs geology programs typically prepare people for (NCES/BLS crosswalk). Not a guaranteed outcome, and not a record of what graduates do.
Data Filter by the education the job usually needs or its preparation level; sort by pay or by number employed.
| Occupation | Most common education | Job Zone | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Manager | $167,220 | 108,690 | Bachelor's Degree | 5 |
| Geologist | $101,920 | 23,470 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Chemistry TeacherPostsecondary teaching | $93,250 | 19,980 | Master's Degree | 5 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, PostsecondaryPostsecondary teaching | $103,170 | 9,900 | Master's Degree | 5 |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $53,350 | 6,980 | n/a | 4 |
| Hydrologist | $96,600 | 5,850 | n/a | 4 |
| Hydrologic Technician | $64,790 | 2,840 | n/a | 3 |
No occupations match these filters.
Data The education column shows a typical entry level only where O*NET data supports one answer. Check the typical education for Natural Sciences Manager, one of the geology jobs above.
Data BLS national median annual wage, May 2025. These are pay levels of the occupations, not earnings of graduates.
Data The largest related occupations by employment (postsecondary teaching shown in the explorer).
Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
Science · Reading Comprehension · Active Listening
Mapped from CIP 40.0601, 40.0602Locate and review research articles or environmental, historical, or technical reports.
Communicate geological findings by writing research papers, participating in conferences, or teaching geological science at universities.
Reading Comprehension · Science · Writing
Mapped from CIP 40.0601, 40.0602Design and conduct scientific hydrogeological investigations to ensure that accurate and appropriate information is available for use in water resource management decisions.
Study and document quantities, distribution, disposition, and development of underground and surface waters.
Critical Thinking · Complex Problem Solving · Reading Comprehension
Mapped from CIP 40.0601, 40.0605Test and analyze samples to determine their content and characteristics, using laboratory apparatus or testing equipment.
Collect or prepare solid or fluid samples for analysis.
Reading Comprehension · Critical Thinking · Time Management
Mapped from CIP 40.0601Data Related occupations grouped by government career field, with their pay range.
Data Other programs whose crosswalk occupations overlap with these.
Data A national median for federal-aid graduates of this field: a separate measure from the BLS job pay above.
See earnings by degree level, college spread and federal debt.
The NCES/BLS crosswalk relates instructional programs (CIP 2020) to occupations (SOC 2018) when programs in the CIP category typically prepare individuals directly for jobs in the occupation. This page uses the CIP program series below and shows every non-residual occupation mapped to them that has BLS wages and O*NET data; each occupation lists the CIP codes that map to it.
Searches this page answers include “what can you do with a geology degree”, “geology degree jobs”, “what jobs can you get with a geology degree” (Ahrefs, U.S.).
