<p>There's so much doom and gloom on this board regarding job prospects for science majors, I was wondering if someone could give me some insight as to the prospects for a prospective geology/geophysics major. What kind of jobs are available, how many jobs are there and what do they pay?</p>
<p>My eldest son is a sophomore Geology/Geophysics major at California State University Sacramento so I hope there are good prospects for employment in this major. He is taking a lot of Calculus and Physics courses because he has heard that the more quantitative courses you have taken, the more attractive you are to potential employers.</p>
<p>Job opportunities in geology and geophysics are generally good, especially if you are willing to travel and relocate in response to the market. Geology jobs (and geology graduate degrees) fall into two broad categories: “Soft rock”, i.e. pertaining to sedimentary deposits, where the jobs tend to be in petroleum, coal, uranium, etc. and “hard rock” where the jobs tend to be in extraction of precious metals. Hydrology and environmental (cleanup) geology are also good fields. Seismology (earthquakes), volcanology, planetary geology, and paleontology are fascinating areas also, but jobs in these areas may be harder to come by as they tend to be more research-oriented.</p>
<p>One thing to be aware of is that geology jobs tend to be cyclic depending on the market. When oil or metals prices are high, geologists are in high demand; sudden price drops can leave recent hires vulnerable. </p>
<p>As Lemaitre1 implied, a geophysics probably makes you more marketable than just geology. As a retired geologist, I can tell you that both are fascinating and if you enjoy them, go for it. You’ll meet great people, travel to interesting places and more than likely be employed if you are willing to be flexible in the early years of your career.</p>