Geophysicists are scientists who study the physical aspects of the earth using gravity, magnetic, and seismic implements. They collect various types of data to interpret what lies below the earth’s surface. They create maps of hydrocarbon buildups for oil and gas industries. Some work in the field while others crunch the numbers in an office environment, and they can be employed by the government or private companies.
Education and Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree in geology, mathematics, or engineering will help in securing a position as a geophysicist. Though there is no geophysics major offered in undergraduate study (or most colleges), many universities offer geophysics at the master’s level. To lead a career in research and exploration, math, statistics, and IT skills are strongly recommended aside from geology or geophysics skills. To teach in colleges, a Ph.D. is required.
Responsibilities and a Day in the Life
Most geophysicists work a regular schedule of 8 hours a day and five days a week. But if they are traveling to the field or offshore sites, the actual hours may vary.
Though daily responsibilities vary based on many factors; some of the common ones include the following:
- Planning the project details, data acquisition methods, and data-processing details
- Deploying equipment in the field to gather data to send to the office for processing
- Analyzing data to produce reports and documentation
- Studying data to understand the composition, structure, etc.
- Estimating reservoir volumes to assess potential oil and gas yield
- Presenting details to management/clients.
- Attending meetings with management to keep the project on schedule and within the budget
- Learning new technologies to improve data collection and interpretation
Other Necessary Skills
- Analytical and problem-solving skills
- Project management skills
- Technical writing skills
- IT skills
Salary
Salary could vary based on company, experience, location, etc. BLS does not track geophysicists separately; the closest job is geoscientists. According to BLS, the median salary is about $84K. Â
Job Growth
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about…
- 25K jobs in 2021
- The job outlook from 2021 to 2031 is 5% which is on par with the average job growth.
- Employment change = 1200 (2021 to 31)
Summary
If you are someone who finds the following characteristics appealing, you can consider geophysicist as your future career:
- Working at remote locations or offshore (at least at the start of your career)
- Working with equipment to study the earth and its composition
- Gathering and analyzing data mainly for oil and natural gas companies.
Though there is a push towards EVs and other eco-friendly technologies, according to our guest, the required infrastructure to handle this transition does not exist yet and will not exist for a while. So, at least for the next 2 to 3 decades, there will be demand for geophysicists.
