Match drill data to the model
Set drill hole data beside a 3D ore body model to judge how far worthwhile rock may reach.
Career profile
Mining and Geological Engineer
Mining engineers decide where and how to dig a mineral deposit out of the ground.
Rich-looking ore on a map can be hard to reach. You match the rock underground with the tunnels, roads and machines that bring it out.
A day in the life
Plan roads and digging order
At a surface mine, sketch the access roads in, then weigh several digging orders by what each costs.
Chase a shortfall in output
Compare actual output with the plan and discuss the gap with site staff before proposing a change.
Decide where waste rock goes
Decide where dug-out waste rock goes, and fit water handling and land restoration into the overall mine plan.
Quick facts
Bachelor’s degree
United States
$106,220/year
United States · May 2025
3.8% growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Bachelor’s degreeUsually mining or geological engineering, or a related field.
Pay
$106,220/yearNational median, equivalent to $51.07/hour, including mining safety engineers.
Outlook
3.8% growthAbout 300 openings per year nationally, including mining safety engineers.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like picturing underground shapes from maps and measurements.
- You enjoy checking whether a design makes numerical sense.
- You want to explain your calculations to people who will use the plan.
Things to weigh
- Some mines are far from towns, and schedules can vary or run longer than usual.
- Site visits can mean bad weather, protective equipment and strict safety procedures.
Where AI may help
Mine-planning software can turn drilling data into three-dimensional models and compare extraction schedules. Tools such as Vulcan let you test different assumptions.
What people still lead
You decide which ground conditions, safety limits and costs the plan must respect, then explain the choices to the people running the mine.
What we can’t predict yet
How much routine planning becomes automated remains uncertain; unusual geology and changing operating conditions can still force a plan to be reconsidered.
Pay in context
Earnings
The national median was $106,220 a year, or $51.07 an hour, in May 2025. These figures include mining safety engineers and are not starting-pay estimates.
The national spread
The 10th-percentile annual wage was $67,490; the 90th-percentile wage was $169,990. These mark the lower and upper ends of the middle 80% of workers, not beginner and senior salaries.
Openings include replacements
Employment is projected to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, with about 300 openings annually on average. Openings include replacing people who leave the occupation, not just newly created jobs.
Getting started
Study mining engineering
- What the route involves
- Study mine design, rock behavior, ventilation and costs, with laboratory and field exercises.
- What it can lead to
- Build preparation for entry roles in mine engineering, operations and mining consulting.
Study geological engineering
- What the route involves
- Combine geology with engineering analysis and design; choose coursework that connects ground conditions with mineral resources.
- What it can lead to
- Build preparation for geological engineering work, including evaluating ground conditions for mining projects.
A bachelor’s degree is the usual starting point. Two relevant study paths emphasize different parts of the work.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization. This path also has a credential or licensing boundary; see the requirements and limits.
Get established
Learn how your mine’s maps, measurements and production records fit together. Practice turning them into clear plans and reports.
Develop your judgment
Take on more detailed equipment choices or mine-design work, comparing technical options with their operating costs.
Specialize or lead
Become a technical specialist or move toward supervising engineers and technicians. Engineering management adds responsibility for the wider team.
Where you can work
At a mine or quarry
You visit the workings to see how designs hold up on the ground. A quarry may be near a town; a mineral mine may be isolated. Outdoor conditions shape site days.
- Field work
- Outdoors
- Safety-sensitive
At an engineering-services firm
Office time gives you space to build models and compare designs. Site visits connect that computer work with the actual excavation.
- Office
- Field work
- Travel
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
On graph paper, draw an imaginary mineral deposit, a processing plant and a stream. Sketch two routes for moving rock to the plant. Compare their lengths and list what you would need to know about the ground before choosing. Notice whether you enjoy turning a map into a workable plan.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers — 17-2151.00. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Mining and Geological Engineers — Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — May 2025 national estimates, SOC 17-2151. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment Projections Table 1.2 — 2025–2035, SOC 17-2151. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Colorado School of Mines. Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Missouri University of Science and Technology. Mining Engineering — Undergraduate Catalog. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Missouri University of Science and Technology. Geological Engineering — Undergraduate Catalog. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Maptek. Vulcan — 3D mine planning and geological modelling. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Licensure. Accessed 2026-10-10.