OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Geological and Petroleum Technician

Overview: Geological and petroleum technicians measure and record physical and geologic conditions in oil or gas wells, using advanced instruments lowered into the wells or analyzing the mud from the wells. In oil and gas exploration, technicians collect and examine geological data or test geological samples to determine their petroleum content and their mineral and element composition. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center

Overview (continued): Some petroleum technicians, called scouts, collect information about oil well and gas well drilling operations, geological and geophysical prospecting, and land or lease contracts. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Geological and Petroleum Technician

Preparation: Most science technicians need an associate degree in applied science or science-related technology. Many employers prefer applicants who have at least 2 years of specialized training or an associate degree in applied science or science-related technology. Many technical and community colleges offer associate degrees in a specific technology or more general education in science and mathematics. A number of associate degree programs are designed to provide easy transfer to bachelor’s degree programs at colleges or universities. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Geological and Petroleum Technician

Preparation (continued): Graduates of bachelor’s degree programs in science who have considerable experience in laboratory-based courses, have completed internships, or have held summer jobs in laboratories also are well qualified for science technician positions and are preferred by some employers. Some schools offer cooperative-education or internship programs, allowing students the opportunity to work at a local company or some other workplace while attending classes during alternate terms. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Geological and Petroleum Technician

Day in the Life: Geological and petroleum technicians work under a wide variety of conditions. They perform much of their work outdoors sometimes in remote locations. Some occasionally work irregular hours to monitor experiments that cannot be completed during regular working hours. Advances in automation and information technology require technicians to operate more sophisticated laboratory equipment. Science technicians make extensive use of computers, electronic measuring equipment, and other apparatus. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Geological and Petroleum Technician

Earnings: According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly earnings of geological and petroleum technicians are about $25.65 per hour. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Geological and Petroleum Technician

Employment: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, geological and petroleum technicians hold about 15,200 jobs in the United States. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Geological and Petroleum Technician

Career Path Forecast: Employment growth of about 2 percent, representing little or no change, is expected for geological and petroleum technicians from as oil companies continue to search for new resource deposits to meet world demand for petroleum products and natural gas. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Geological and Petroleum Technician

Career Path Forecast: The outlook for these workers is strongly tied to the price of oil; historically, when prices are low, companies limit exploration and curtail hiring of technicians, but when prices are high, they expand exploration activities. In the long run, continued high oil prices will maintain demand for these workers. In addition to job openings created by growth, many openings should arise from the need to replace technicians who retire or leave the labor force for other reasons. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Geological and Petroleum Technician

Resources: More information about Geological and Petroleum Technicians is available at the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center, including lists of programs, suggestions for precollege students, a free monthly careers newsletter, and a PDF summarizing the field.Geological and Petroleum Technicians Sloan Career Cornerstone Centerprecollege studentsnewsletterPDF summarizing the field Associations:  American Geological Institute American Geological Institute  Association for Women Geoscientists Association for Women Geoscientists  American Association of Petroleum Geologists American Association of Petroleum Geologists  Society of Petroleum Engineers Society of Petroleum Engineers OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Geological and Petroleum Technician