Geological Sample Test Technicians
SOC: 19-4041.02

Description:

Test or analyze geological samples, crude oil, or minerals to detect presence of petroleum, gas, or mineral deposits indicating potential for exploration or production or to determine physical or chemical properties to ensure that products meet quality standards.

National Salary Information:

Hourly Statistics:

Annual Statistics:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 wage data.

Employment Projections:

Employment (2014):
16,500 employed

Projected (2024):
18,500 employed

Projected growth (2014-2024)


Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 2014-2024 employment projections external site. "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2014-2024). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Alternate Titles:

  • Acid Tester
  • Chalk Tester
  • Core Inspector
  • Crude Tester
  • Drilling Fluids Specialist
  • Electron Microprobe Operator
  • Environmental Field Services Technician
  • Environmental Sampling Technician
  • Explorer
  • Extractions Technologist
  • Gas Analyst
  • Gas Prover
  • Gas Tester
  • Gasoline Tester
  • Geological Technician
  • Geology Associate
  • Geology Technician
  • Geotechnicial Properties Technician
  • Hydrology Technician
  • Laboratory Assistant
  • Laboratory Technician
  • Laboratory Worker
  • Materials Technician
  • Mineral Technologist
  • Mud Analysis Operator
  • Mud Analysis Well-Logging Captain
  • Mud Analysis Well-Logging Operator
  • Oil Analyst
  • Oil and Gas Exploration Technician
  • Oil Field Tester
  • Oil Laboratory Analyst
  • Oil Tester
  • Oil Well Logger
  • Ore Tester
  • Organic Section Technical Lead
  • Petroleum Analyst
  • Physical Science Technician
  • Quality Control Technician (QC Technician)
  • Research Associate
  • Specialist Field Engineer
  • Temperature Logging Operator
  • Test Engine Evaluator
  • Test Engine Operator
  • Test Evaluator
  • Test Technician
  • Tester
  • Well Logger
  • Well Tester

    • Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

    Experience:

    A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

    Education:

    Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

    Job Training:

    Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

    Required Skills:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Monitoring
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Coordination
  • Persuasion
  • Negotiation
  • Instructing
  • Service Orientation
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Operations Analysis
  • Technology Design
  • Equipment Selection
  • Programming
  • Operation Monitoring
  • Operation and Control
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Troubleshooting
  • Repairing
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Systems Analysis
  • Systems Evaluation
  • Time Management
  • Management of Financial Resources
  • Management of Material Resources
  • Management of Personnel Resources

    • Knowledge Used:

  • Administration and Management
  • Clerical
  • Economics and Accounting
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Production and Processing
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Design
  • Building and Construction
  • Mechanical
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • Geography
  • Education and Training
  • English Language
  • Foreign Language
  • History and Archeology
  • Philosophy and Theology
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Law and Government
  • Telecommunications
  • Communications and Media
  • Transportation

    • Tasks:

  • Test and analyze samples to determine their content and characteristics, using laboratory apparatus or testing equipment.
  • Collect or prepare solid or fluid samples for analysis.
  • Adjust or repair testing, electrical, or mechanical equipment or devices.
  • Supervise well exploration, drilling activities, or well completions.
  • Inspect engines for wear or defective parts, using equipment or measuring devices.
  • Prepare notes, sketches, geological maps, or cross sections.
  • Participate in geological, geophysical, geochemical, hydrographic, or oceanographic surveys, prospecting field trips, exploratory drilling, well logging, or underground mine survey programs.
  • Plot information from aerial photographs, well logs, section descriptions, or other databases.
  • Assess the environmental impacts of development projects on subsurface materials.
  • Collaborate with hydrogeologists to evaluate groundwater or well circulation.
  • Prepare, transcribe, or analyze seismic, gravimetric, well log, or other geophysical or survey data.
  • Participate in the evaluation of possible mining locations.
  • Participate in the evaluation of possible geothermal energy plant locations.
  • Test and analyze samples from potential underground carbon sequestration sites.
  • Compile, log, or record testing or operational data for review and further analysis.
  • Assemble, operate, or maintain field or laboratory testing, measuring, or mechanical equipment.
  • Prepare or review professional, technical, or other reports regarding sampling, testing, or recommendations of data analysis.

    • Tools & Technology:

  • 35 millimeter cameras
  • Automatic burets
  • Binocular polarizing microscopes
  • Calorimeters
  • Carbon hydrogen nitrogen CHN analyzers
  • Chipmunk crushers
  • Conductivity indicators
  • Cryogenic magnetometers
  • Desktop computers
  • Digital cameras
  • Digital chlorine testers
  • Digital hydrometers
  • Digital micropipettes
  • Digital pH meters
  • Digital seismographs
  • Dissolved organic carbon analyzers
  • Dissolved oxygen meters
  • Dissolved salt meters
  • Electronic distance meters
  • Electronic laboratory balances
  • Erlenmeyer flasks
  • Fluorescence microscopes
  • Fluorescence spectrophotometers
  • Fourier transfer infrared FTIR spectrometers
  • Gas chromatography equipment
  • General purpose burets
  • Glass beakers
  • Glass dropping pipettes
  • Glass funnels
  • Glass graduated cylinders
  • Glass laboratory crucibles
  • Gravitational field indicators
  • Ground penetrating radar GPR systems
  • Groundwater sampling peristaltic pumps
  • Heated magnetic stirrers
  • High pressure liquid chromatograph HPLC equipment
  • Inductively coupled plasma ICP optical emission spectrometers
  • Jaw crushers
  • Laboratory drying ovens
  • Laboratory pulverizers
  • Laboratory sieves
  • Laboratory vacuum pumps
  • Laptop computers
  • Mass spectrometers
  • Microwave digestion systems
  • Optical particle detectors
  • Personal computers
  • Phase contrast microscopes
  • Piezometers
  • Portable dataloggers
  • Proton magnetometers
  • Rock saws
  • Rotary pulverizers
  • Sample microsplitters
  • Scanning electron microscopes SEM
  • Shatterboxes
  • Sieve shakers
  • Single crystal x ray diffractometers
  • Spectrophotometers
  • Spinner magnetometers
  • Terrain conductivity meters
  • Top-loading electronic balances
  • Total sulfur analyzers
  • Turbidimeters
  • Ultraviolet-Visible UV/VIS spectrophotometers
  • Volumetric flasks
  • Water distillation units
  • Water sampling bailers
  • X ray fluorescence XRF spectrometers
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
  • Autodesk AutoCAD software
  • Clark Labs IDRISI Andes
  • Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
  • Geographic resources analysis support system GRASS* software
  • Golden Software Surfer
  • Landmark Graphics GeoGraphix software
  • Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE
  • Martin D Adamiker's TruFlite
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • Midland Valley 2DMove
  • Parallel Geoscience SPW software
  • Seismic Micro-Technology KINGDOM
  • Surface III

    • life physical and social science

    industry stats

    SOC: 19-0000

    Total Employed: 1,146,110

    Average Annual Salary: $71,220