Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers: salary, outlook & degrees
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.
Middle half $85,280–$136,590. 6,080 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 300 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Considerable preparation (usually a bachelor's).
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Education workers say the job requires
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers (“required level of education”); small samples, so treat shares as approximate.
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| California | $158,130 |
| Oklahoma | $131,660 |
| Utah | $125,520 |
| Alaska | $124,630 |
| Idaho | $123,680 |
| Wyoming | $119,010 |
| Florida | $117,500 |
| Indiana | $113,640 |
| Illinois | $107,690 |
| Nevada | $107,500 |
| Montana | $105,410 |
| Virginia | $104,960 |
| Kentucky | $103,300 |
| Alabama | $102,530 |
| Arizona | $102,130 |
| Texas | $100,580 |
| Tennessee | $100,390 |
| South Carolina | $98,790 |
| West Virginia | $97,960 |
| Michigan | $97,310 |
| Colorado | $96,820 |
| Oregon | $96,210 |
| Wisconsin | $95,950 |
| Minnesota | $91,610 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,020 |
| Ohio | $86,210 |
| New York | $82,200 |
| North Carolina | $70,310 |
Largest metro areas for this job
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial CO$93,100
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler AZ$114,290
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim CA$144,230
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom CA$166,770
- Salt Lake City-Murray UT$131,770
- Beckley WV$81,370
- Tucson AZ$106,220
- Anchorage AK$141,080
- Charleston WV$84,450
- Oklahoma City OK$131,660
- Reno NV$100,670
- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro OR-WA$119,990
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
Knowledge used
- Engineering and Technology
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Design
Work styles
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Perseverance
People in this job tend to have Realistic (hands-on), Investigative (analytical), Conventional (organizing) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers: questions
How much do mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers make?
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers earn a U.S. median $106,220 a year; the middle half earn $85,280 to $136,590 (BLS, May 2025).
Is mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, with about 300 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be a mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineer?
BLS lists the typical entry education as bachelor's degree. In O*NET's survey, 99% of workers say a bachelor's or higher is required.
How much do mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $117,500 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $106,220 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 17-2151. Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all careers
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