Paleontologist Salary

Paleontology refers to the study of fossils. A fossil is any sign of a pat life form like shells, bones, trails or tracks, which could be preserved. A paleontologist studies these pre-historic traces in order to try to restore the history of our planet. There are people confused between paleontology and archeology, but the basic difference lies in the fact that the former deals with only natural formations on the earth and not human-made artifacts. Typical work places for paleontologists include working in the petroleum industry, teaching in the geology department at universities or working at a museum apart from the regular field work.

Educational Qualifications for a Paleontologist

To get an entry into paleontology, one needs to have a master's degree in earth science or geology. A bachelor's degree in these fields of studies are accepted at certain places to get an entry-level job, but it is always advisable to do a masters program to get a good entry-level job. For people looking for a job at a high-end research level institute or working as a professor at a university, it is important to get a Ph.D.

A person aspiring to become a paleontologist will have to master the study field of classical geology which includes topics like petrology, mineralogy, structural geology and paleontology. Aspirants educated in other areas of science like chemistry, biology, engineering or physics should ensure that some areas of their coursework includes geology related subjects.

Apart from the necessary education qualifications to become a paleontologist, there are few other skills and qualities an aspirant must possess. One should have extensive knowledge in areas of digital mapping, computer modeling, remote sending and data analysis. There are few employers who prefer candidates with field experience and hence it will always help to gain as much field experience as possible while pursuing academia. Other necessary skills include good written and oral communication skills, knowledge about few foreign languages and ability to think in a logical manner to analyze findings. The job can become physically demanding due to extensive field work involved.

A Paleontologist's Job Description

• Recovering specimen of fossils and classifying them according to their likely age and the botanical family they belong to.
• Studying the fossilized remains discovered in geological formations and tracing their evolution and past-life development.
• Organizing scientific excursions to remove and study fossil rock formations.
• Can specialize in the study of fossilized plants or micro-organisms.
• Preparing writings based on findings for future study or to help locate natural resources like fossil fuels.

There are no routine working hours or working days for paleontologists as they can be employed in varied settings. They should have the ability to adapt to different situations and working conditions, as one day they may be out for field work and the next day working indoors.

What is the Average Salary of a Paleontologist?

The salary depends on a number of factors. Educational qualifications, years of field experience, type of employer and the area of working determine it. The entry-level pay range is from US $35,000 to US $38,000. Along with experience and further studies (if any), this figure increases and the maximum salary for a paleontologist can go up to US $135,000. Responsibilities also become more as one is given tough projects or promoted to a senior research position or made project head. The petroleum industry is a high paying sector where paleontologists can easily earn about US $75,000 a year. Teaching at universities or working at museums are relatively less paying jobs. The average salary across sectors and levels is around US $67,000.

Most paleontologists in USA are employed as university or college professors in the geology departments. Very few of them work with the government aiding in research projects. Oil and petroleum industries do not employ as many as they used to previously. On comparing a paleontologist's salary in various states, Texas and Los Angeles are considered to be the highest paying ones.