Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers

Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics · Engineering and Technology

Job zone 4: considerable preparationO*NET 17-2151.00

Pay and outlook shown for

median pay per year, Texas (no San Antonio figure is published for this career)

$80k10th$101kMedian$170k90th

New workers start near $79,990; experienced workers reach $169,640. About 160 people do this job in Texas.

Job outlook

U.S. projection, 2024 to 2034.

Employment change: +1%; nationwide
Openings a year: 400; nationwide, from growth and people leaving
Employed in 2024: 7,000; nationwide

Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree

Alamo Colleges programs that lead here

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Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

Complex Problem Solving4.4
Reading Comprehension4.8
Judgment and Decision Making4.6
Critical Thinking4.5
Writing4.3
Speaking4.1
Active Listening4.0
Mathematics4.6

What the work is

Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs.

Inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
Select locations and plan underground or surface mining operations, specifying processes, labor usage, and equipment that will result in safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction of minerals and ores.
Examine maps, deposits, drilling locations, or mines to determine the location, size, accessibility, contents, value, and potential profitability of mineral, oil, and gas deposits.
Prepare schedules, reports, and estimates of the costs involved in developing and operating mines.
Monitor mine production rates to assess operational effectiveness.
Design, implement, and monitor the development of mines, facilities, systems, or equipment.

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

Some college1%
Associate degree1%
Bachelor's degree96%
Master's degree3%

Job zone 4, considerable preparation: Usually a bachelor's degree, sometimes a strong associate plus experience.

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