Geologists and Oceanographers
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Job description
Geologists improve the human environment and its safety, particularly regarding the prediction of risks related to soil and subsoil. They discover and extract solid and fluid components from the earth’s crust to evaluate the effects of certain projects on the environment. They also seek to study the soil and subsoil on planets, asteroids, and natural satellites. They are self-employed or work for:
- Oil and mining companies
- Engineering and geological and geophysical consulting firms
- The government
- Educational institutions
Oceanographers research oceanic phenomena and processes. They study the characteristics of oceans and how they interact with other environments. They also study the impacts of human activity on ocean and marine ecosystems. They are self-employed or work for:
- The government
- Educational institutions
- Private companies
Environment
- Climatic conditions
- Humidity
- Uncontrolled ambient temperature
- Hazardous workplaces
- Noise
Main tasks
Geologists
- Carry out geological studies on:
- The surface and groundwater (research, evaluation, exploitation, and protection of water resources).
- The search for and exploitation of deposits of ores, coal, and other useful substances extracted in mines or quarries.
- Underground and surface storage.
- The search for and exploitation of geothermal deposits.
- The characterization and remediation of contaminated sites.
- The protection of the environment and the preservation of natural resources and environment.
- Carry out geological surveys and geological map surveys (photo-geological interpretations, data provided by remote sensing, geochemistry, etc.).
- Carry out surveys and studies by interpreting the data provided by boreholes and drilling, and their exploitation.
- Carry out geological surveys and studies for work on structures and developments.
- Carry out research to study and prevent natural geological risks (landslides, earthquakes, soil erosion, etc.).
- Teach geology in higher education institutions.
Oceanographers
- Plan and direct the sampling and analysis of water, plankton, fish, sediments, and rocks.
- Study the physical properties of oceans to develop models and simulations of ocean conditions.
- Study the ocean floor and underwater geological structures to represent them graphically.
- Conduct investigations on the chemical properties of the oceans and marine life to analyze the impact of environmental changes on marine ecology.
Advancement and mobility
- Experience leads to senior, supervisory, or management positions.
- Geologists may specialize in a variety of fields:
- Development geology
- Geochemistry
- Geotechnics
- Geophysics
- Remote sensing
- Mineral prospecting
- Petroleum geology
- Reservoir geology
- Oceanographers may specialize in various fields (biological, chemical, geological oceanography, etc.).
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $34.00
- Median
- $43.36
- Maximum
- $66.67
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 28.2% Female
- 71.8% Male
- 28.2% Female
- 71.8% Male
Job types
All of Québec
- Full time
- Part time
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
-
NAICS 2144% of jobs
-
NAICS 5413, 541422% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 541715% of jobs
-
NAICS 9112% of jobs
-
NAICS 55, 562% of jobs
-
Others5% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 2144% of jobs
-
NAICS 5413, 541422% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 541715% of jobs
-
NAICS 9112% of jobs
-
NAICS 55, 562% of jobs
-
Others5% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
University
Earth science
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 58.3%
41.7% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 100%
Geography
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 44.8%
48.5% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 68.4%
28.9% of graduates pursue further studies
Geological engineering
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 58.1%
41.9% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 60%
30% of graduates pursue further studies
Geology or mineralogy
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 53.3%
46.7% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 100%
Hydrology and water sciences
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 75%
25% of graduates pursue further studies
Oceanography
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 84.6%
15.4% of graduates pursue further studies
Also required
Geologists
- The title of Geologist is reserved for members of the Ordre des géologues du Québec (OGQ [Quebec Order of Geologists]).
Oceanographers
- University degree in science, mathematics, statistics, or engineering required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Information processing
- Reading comprehension
- Critical thought
- Science
- Oral expression
- Active listening
- Solving complex problems
- Written expression
- Judgment and decision-making
- Active learning
- Mathematics
- System analysis
- Result evaluation
- Time management
- Coordination
- Teaching
- Systems evaluation
Abilities
- Inductive reasoning
- Awareness of issues
- Classification
- Written comprehension
- Oral comprehension
- Deductive reasoning
- Written expression
- Verbal skills
- Speech clarity
- Information organization
- Mathematical reasoning
- Speech recognition
- Near vision
- Idea generation
- Basic numeracy
- Distance vision
- Originality
- Processing flexibility
- Selective attention
- Perception speed
- Visualization
Knowledge and attributes
- Critical thinking
- Sense of responsibility
- Capacity to influence and mobilize
- Capacity to adapt
- Spoken and written bilingualism (French and English)
- Capacity to work in a team
- Capacity to delegate
- Rigour
- Respect standards and regulations
- Knowledge of physics
- Knowledge of geography
Interests
- Direct, organize, and manage
- Draft, communicate, and inform
- Work with numbers
- Carry out research
- Develop and exploit natural resources
- Collect, verify, sort, and classify data or information
- Work outdoors
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Conventional
- People with this profile prefer specific, well-defined tasks. They like to respect the order of things and follow established rules.
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
Official name of the NOC 21102
Geoscientists and oceanographers
Job titles
- Geologists
- Geophysicist
- Hydrogeologist
- Oceanographer
- Biological oceanographer
Skill type
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
Related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026