Working as a Geologist and Geological Engineer
Industry Overview
Future employment opportunities for geologists and geological engineers are expected to be good, with more job openings than number of workers to fill them.
New jobs will likely come from oil, gas and mining exploration in BC and the environmental geosciences sector including land use planning, risk assessment and water resources management.
Much of the demand for geologists and geological engineers is expected to be filled by immigration.
Job Outlook in BC
Geoscientists (including Geologists)
Geological Engineers
WorkBC provides job openings in BC regions from 2019-2029:
Geologists, Geochemists, and Geophysicists
| Region | Expected # of Job Openings 2019-2029 |
Average Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Island | 170 | 0.7% |
| Lower Mainland /Southwest | 470 | 1.7% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 60 | 1.9% |
| Kootenay | 30 | -0.1% |
Source: WorkBC Career Profiles
Industry sources report that more geoscientists are expected to be based in the Lower Mainland, and less in other areas of B.C. Improved travel and instant communications make it easier for geoscientists to reside centrally and work remotely.
Geological Engineers 2019-2029
| Region | Expected # of Job Openings 2019-2029 |
Average Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Island | 30 | 0.8% |
| Lower Mainland /Southwest | 310 | 1.7% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 50 | 1.5% |
Source: WorkBC Career Profile for Geological Engineers NOC 2144
You can learn more about working as a Geologist and Geological Engineer from:
Types of Employers
Geologists work for:
- petroleum and mining companies
- consulting geology, geophysics, and engineering firms
- government and educational institutions
- may be self-employed
Geological engineers work for:
- consulting engineering companies
- electrical utilities, mining, and petroleum companies
- government
- research and educational institutions
Salary
In BC, the median annual salary for Geologists is $109,285. The median annual salary for Geological Engineers is $100,317.
Your salary varies depending on education, work experience, position, and employer. Management positions may make more. In addition to your salary, full-time employees often receive benefits such as pension plans, dental coverage, sick leave, and paid vacations.
Job Bank Canada website provides hourly wages:
Geologists /Geoscientists
Geological Engineers
Source: Job Bank, Wage Report | Geologist in B.C. , Job Bank, Wage Report | Geological Engineer in B.C.
Working Hours
You generally work between 8 and 10 hours a day, 40 to 50 hours a week.
However, during fieldwork, you may be required to work longer hours due to seasonal site access limitations, remote location or data gathering equipment requirements.