Also called: Mining and Geological Engineers
Mining and Geological Engineers build complex problem solving, judgment and decision making and systems evaluation skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (83%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 83% | $101,920 | −4% | None |
| 2 | Water Resource Specialists | 80% | $167,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Natural Sciences Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 3 | Materials Scientists | 77% | $117,790 | +11% | None |
| 4 | Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | 77% | $122,570Pay for the broader BLS group “Physical Scientists, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 75% | $171,270Pay for the broader BLS group “Architectural and Engineering Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 6 | Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | 75% | $141,900Pay for the broader BLS group “Managers, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 7 | Hydrologists | 75% | $96,600 | −9% | None |
| 8 | Logistics Engineers | 74% | $82,320Pay for the broader BLS group “Logisticians” | Not compared | None |
| 9 | Geothermal Production Managers | 73% | $126,060Pay for the broader BLS group “Industrial Production Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 10 | Atmospheric and Space Scientists | 72% | $99,070 | −7% | None |
Compared with Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers, median $106,220. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as mining and geological engineers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
83% skill match · $101,920 · −4% pay
Equipment Maintenance · Repairing
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
80% skill match · $167,220 (broader BLS group)
Time Management · Service Orientation
77% skill match · $117,790 · +11% pay
Equipment Maintenance · Repairing
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (83% skill match, median $101,920), Water Resource Specialists (80% skill match, median $167,220) and Materials Scientists (77% skill match, median $117,790), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 7 pay more than mining and geological engineers at the median. The biggest increases: Medical Dosimetrists (+39%, $147,470), Computer and Information Research Scientists (+32%, $140,300) and Database Architects (+31%, $139,500).
24 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones. One usually needs a graduate degree: Computer and Information Research Scientists.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.