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Careers›Roles›Development Geologist
Mid-Level

Development Geologist

Once a deposit is found, the hard work of getting it out begins, and you guide it, studying the geology of an oil, gas, or mineral resource to inform where and how to extract. Geology applied to production.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
I
R
C
A
S
E
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Realistichands-on, practical
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Development Geologists
Financial ServicesProfessional Services · 52%Government · 20%Education · 6%Administrative Services · 1%Manufacturing · 1%
Job markets for Development Geologists
Employment concentration · ~104 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Science
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Development Geologist

The work blends data analysis, modeling, and collaboration: interpreting well logs, seismic, and core, building subsurface models, and advising drilling or mining plans. You work with engineers and operators, often bridging the rock and the economics. Much of the craft is reducing uncertainty about what's underground, where the data is always incomplete and the stakes are high and costly.

What's demanding is the uncertainty and the cost of being wrong: a misjudged model can mean a dry well or a bad mine plan, expensive either way. The industry rides commodity cycles, so jobs and budgets swing. The work spans oil and gas, mining, and consulting, each with its own data and pressures to weather.

It fits someone analytical, comfortable with uncertainty, and drawn to the subsurface. If you need clean answers or stable, predictable work, the ambiguity and cycles can wear. But if you like the detective work of reading the rock, and the high stakes of guiding real extraction, the work tends to be genuinely engaging, project after project.

What people in this role value
IndependenceAbove avg
AchievementAbove avg
Working ConditionsAbove avg
RecognitionAbove avg
RelationshipsLower
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Professional Services$92K+15%
Technology & Information$91K+13%
Energy & Utilities$82K+2%
Financial Services$81K+2%
Wholesale & Distribution$79K-1%
Compared to Science average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Development Geologists (SOC 19-2042.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Science →
Development GeologistGeophysical ProspectorSeismologistVolcanologistGeochemistCore AnalystCrystallographerGeological ScoutEngineering GeologistGeological SpecialistMud Logging Data Analyst
Exploring the Development Geologist career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$59K–$179K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
23K
U.S. Employment
+3.2%
10yr Growth
2K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$77K$74K$71K$68K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$77K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingScienceActive ListeningComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingWritingMathematicsActive Learning
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
19-2042.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midGeophysical Prospector$74KmidSeismologist$96KmidVolcanologist$96KmidGeochemist$99KmidCore Analyst$99KmidCrystallographer$99K
View all Science roles →

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.