Geological and Petroleum Technicians are specialized professionals who work in the mineral extraction industry. They may work in other fields in which exploration and extraction are important. These technicians aid in extracting resources from the ground. These resources are mostly used as fuels. Geological and Petroleum Technicians play an important support role in the extraction of oil and natural gases. They also help forage for other valuable, precious, and rare resources.
Since Geological and Petroleum Technician fulfill such an important supporting role, they may be employed in various industries. Most of the Geological and Petroleum Technicians are employed with industries that deal with either fuels or engineering. The mining industry employs the largest portion of these technicians (30 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics). However, technicians also serve in the extracting industry for oil and gas; various engineering services; the manufacturing of fuels (such as oil and coal products); and the wholesale of chemical substances and allied products. In the United States, most geological technicians work in the state of Texas due to the state’s intense mineral extraction activities.
Geological and Petroleum Technicians Job Responsibilities
Geological and Petroleum Technicians fulfill numerous job responsibilities; most technicians either specialize in lab/fieldwork or in office work. Many of these professionals have overlapping duties which involve both types of work environment. In the field, Geological and Petroleum Technicians gather data, measure their findings, and amass samples for subsequent lab work. For data collection, they are required to use numerous sophisticated tools which are able to detect seismic movement. They also measure gravity levels in a particular area. The samples they gather, which typically consist of minerals, are then analyzed in laboratories to detect the presence of hydrocarbon, precious metals, and gems.
They perform data analysis and lab work on the collected samples. This work requires that they possess a deep knowledge of complex computer software. The Geographic Information System is perhaps the tool they use most often. This tool helps map out the data they’ve collected to enable easier understanding of the findings. This data analysis and mapping process is essential to the position. It helps determine whether a particular site is worth exploring and developing on.
Industy engineers and scientists supervise Geological and Petroleum Technicians prospection and site surveillance. Ultimately, the decision on whether or not to explore a particular site is left up to the higher ranking professionals.*
*According to the BLS, http://www.bls.gov/oco/
Geological and Petroleum Technicians Training and Education Requirements
Most of the time, Geological and Petroleum Technicians possess a 2 year associate’s degree or certification from a college or technical school. The majors of choice are those in the field of science and applied science. Some may qualify for a position with a high-school degree or equivalent diploma provided they possess relevant professional experience in a related field. Conversely, other technicians work with massive amounts of data and perform highly technical duties. Employers may expect these technicians to hold a bachelor’s degree.
You can obtain the necessary degree to become a Geological and Petroleum Technician either from a community college or a technical institute. Both types of schools offer programs for associate degrees in geoscience, petroleum, mining, or related industries and technologies. Technical institutes also provide certificate programs that only take one year to complete. Their programs focus less on theory, but offer more opportunity for practical experience.
The job also involves hands on, on-site training. Season technicians often supervise this training. During these training sessions, new employees are taught how to use the equipment for field and lab work. They are also taught to operate PC software with which they will eventually map and model data. This training may take several months to complete, depending on the employee’s previous professional experience, their level of education, and specific requirements of the job.*
*According to the BLS, http://www.bls.gov/oco/
Geological and Petroleum Technicians Salaries and Wages
In May 2012, the median yearly pay for a Geological and Petroleum Technician stood at $52,700. The top 10 percent of highest paid employees in the field earned over $99,000 annually. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $27,000 annually. Petroleum and coal product manufacturers were the top paying industries for Geological and Petroleum Technicians in 2012. Technicians employed in these industries earned roughly $85,000 in median salaries per year. The median salary for technicians in oil and gas extraction that year stood just under $71,000. Technicians in chemical wholesale earned a little over $53,000 per year, under $48,000 per year for mining support, and $45,000 per year for engineering services. Regardless, Geological and Petroleum Technicians employed in these industries earned a higher median average than physical and social science technicians, whose median yearly wage was only $41,000.*
*According to the BLS, http://www.bls.gov/oco/
Geological and Petroleum Technicians Worker Outlook
The Bureau’s job outlook for Geological and Petroleum Technicians is very optimistic for the upcoming decade. They predict an estimated growth rate of 15 percent. That’s far higher than the average projected job growth rate for all the occupations in the United States. Demand for qualified professionals in this field is likely to expand, given the increasingly high cost of fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas. As demand continues to increase as well, several industries will likely need to hire more Geological and Petroleum Technicians.
Natural gas is also expected to be in high demand in the decade leading up 2022, as the world takes an ever more pronounced turn to cleaner fuels and affordable sources of energy. In turn, this should intensify exploration, prospection, and development activities throughout the world, upping the demand for Geological and Petroleum Technicians. Furthermore, the Bureau expects demand for other minerals, metals, and mined substances to increase at a pace that at least matches historically recorded levels.
2013 employment levels in this field stood at 15,800 Geological and Petroleum Technician jobs in the United States. By 2022, this level is expected to increase by 2,400 (or 18,200 jobs total).
*According to the BLS, http://www.bls.gov/oco/