Match each sample to the notebook
Collect geological samples, then make sure each label matches the location written in your field notebook.
Career profile
Geological Technician
Geological technicians work out what lies underground from collected samples and instrument readings.
You study rock and what a drill brings up, then build geology records. An eye for small differences helps show what lies under a site.
A day in the life
Choose sediment for more testing
Examine a small piece of sediment core under the core lab microscope and pick what gets tested further.
Log readings from a borehole
On a well-logging job, you run the measurement tools and write down underground pressure or temperature.
Map the layers beneath the site
Pair mapping software with well records to draw a cross-section, a sideways view of the buried layers.
Quick facts
Associate's degree
United States
$53,350/year
United States · May 2025
3.6% growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Associate's degreeTypical entry preparation; some jobs require a bachelor's degree.
Pay
$53,350/yearNational median, equivalent to $25.65/hour, for geological technicians excluding hydrologic technicians.
Outlook
3.6% growthProjected employment growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,000 openings a year.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like comparing specimens closely enough to notice small differences.
- You can stay careful while recording repeated measurements.
- You enjoy connecting a physical sample with a map or data table.
Things to weigh
- Field assignments can mean carrying equipment in bad weather and staying away for days or weeks.
- An office assignment can mean much of the day at a computer.
Where AI may help
In some core laboratories, scanners make detailed images along a sample, helping you examine layers without relying only on visual inspection.
What people still lead
People still prepare the cores, select small samples and handle material for later tests.
What we can’t predict yet
How much scanning will replace hands-on examination remains uncertain; different tests need different kinds of sample preparation.
Pay in context
Earnings
Use the national figures as a reference when comparing offers, not as a promised starting wage.
The midpoint
The median was $53,350 a year, or $25.65 an hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less.
The national spread
The 10th-percentile annual wage was $35,770 and the 90th-percentile wage was $99,560. These describe the wage distribution, not beginner and senior pay grades.
Openings over the decade
Employment is projected to grow 3.6%, with about 1,000 openings annually from growth and replacement needs. Local opportunities will differ.
Getting started
Study applied science
- What the route involves
- Earn an associate's degree in applied science or a related technology, studying subjects such as geology, chemistry and mathematics.
- What it can lead to
- This is typical preparation for technician jobs, followed by learning the employer's equipment and software.
Use a physical-science degree for federal roles
- What the route involves
- Complete a bachelor's degree with a major in an appropriate physical science.
- What it can lead to
- For federal geological work classified as Physical Science Technician, series 1311, this can meet the education route at General Schedule grade 5.
- What to check
- The vacancy's requirements and the federal group qualification standard also apply. A qualifying degree does not guarantee selection.
You enter a team supporting scientists and engineers, with workplace training after hiring.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Learn the local workflow
After hiring, practice using the team's field equipment, laboratory instruments and software.
Develop a technical specialty
In core work, build skill in preparing, imaging and preserving samples so they remain useful for later analysis.
Coordinate data collection
With experience, aim for responsibility directing workers who operate geological measuring equipment.
Where you can work
Field sites
You work outdoors with sampling equipment. Remote assignments may involve travel and irregular hours.
- Outdoors
- Field work
- Travel
- Physical demands
Core laboratories
The workbench may hold sampling tools, balances and a microscope. Preparing and storing cores shares space with imaging equipment.
- Indoors
- Lab
Geological data offices
Your day centers on computer records, maps and reports, generally with more regular hours than field assignments.
- Indoors
- Office
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Make a sample log for three rocks you already own or can borrow. Give each an identifier, photograph it beside a ruler, and record visible colors, grains and layers. Ask someone to match the rocks to your notes. Notice whether you enjoy making observations precise enough for another person to use.
Stay safe: Use intact specimens; no breaking, grinding or chemical tests.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Geological and Hydrologic Technicians: applicable preparation and working conditions. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: national SOC 19-4043 estimates. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment Projections Table 1.2, 2025–2035: SOC 19-4043. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- U.S. Geological Survey. Santa Cruz Core Splitting Laboratory. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Physical Science Technician Series 1311: qualification requirements. Accessed 2026-10-09.