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Career overview · SOC 17-2151

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers

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.

Also called: Mine Engineer · Mining Consultant · Mining Engineer · Planning Engineer · Project Engineer · Safety Engineer

Median pay (national)
$101,020
$62,500–$163,740 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
6,770
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+0.7%
~400 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $163,740 versus $62,500 at the bottom 10% — 2.6x. The median of $101,020 leaves roughly 62% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +0.7% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 400 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 27 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $142,520, +41% vs the national median), while New York sits lowest at $79,990 — a 78% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Writing, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D, Bentley MicroStation, Microsoft Excel as in-demand technologies for this role.

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Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Listening
  • Mathematics
  • Monitoring
  • Science
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • Prepare technical reports for use by mining, engineering, and management personnel.
  • Inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
  • Select or develop mineral location, extraction, and production methods, based on factors such as safety, cost, and deposit characteristics.
  • Select locations and plan underground or surface mining operations, specifying processes, labor usage, and equipment that will result in safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction of minerals and ores.
  • Supervise, train, and evaluate technicians, technologists, survey personnel, engineers, scientists or other mine personnel.
  • Examine maps, deposits, drilling locations, or mines to determine the location, size, accessibility, contents, value, and potential profitability of mineral, oil, and gas deposits.
  • Design, implement, and monitor the development of mines, facilities, systems, or equipment.
  • Prepare schedules, reports, and estimates of the costs involved in developing and operating mines.
  • Monitor mine production rates to assess operational effectiveness.
  • Test air to detect toxic gases and recommend measures to remove them, such as installation of ventilation shafts.

Tools & technology

  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Bentley MicroStation
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Windows
  • MySQL
  • Oracle Database
  • SAP software
  • Business software applications
  • Carlson SurvCADD
  • Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
  • CyberArk
  • Gemcom PCBC
  • Gemcom Surpac

Knowledge areas

  • Engineering and Technology
  • Mathematics
  • English Language
  • Production and Processing
  • Design
  • Administration and Management
  • Administrative
  • Physics