Geological & Petroleum Technicians

What's Our Biggest Natural Resource? The Oil and Gas Industry!

Geological and petroleum technicians provide the much-needed support to scientists and engineers exploring for natural resources below the earth's surface. Spending most of their time in the field or laboratory, they take samples and analyze collected data to monitor a site's mining current and future productivity.

Working in a prospective or surveyor team, geological and petroleum technicians will often work with geoscientists and engineers using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to create an easily understood graphic representation of their geographic data.

With the oil & gas industry on the rise in the gulf coast of Texas and the ongoing retirement of baby boomers, geological and petroleum technicians are in demand.

The Demand for Geological Technicians is Up...

...and so are their high wages

Esimates show the Gulf Coast Region to be needing 318 Geological and Petroleum Technicians every year for the next 10 years. As baby boomers begin to retire, the region is losing workers that have developed their technical skills over the course of decades, so we will need viable and dedicated hands to replace theirs at a good salary above the regional average.

How do you start you start?

High School Endorsement: Business & Industry | STEM

Typically, geological and petroleum technicians have an associate's degree or at least 2 years of postsecondary training in a field applied science or technology. These courses are often offered at either the local community college or a technical institute that offers geoscience, petroleum technology, or a related program. Some positions are more data intensive and require at least a bachelor's degree, but many do not.

Regardless of your chosen program, classes will focus on geology, mathematics, computer science, chemistry, and physics, so you can get a head start in high school with these subjects. Once in the workforce and employed, employers will offer short-term on-the-job training under the supervision of experienced technicians. 

Where can you start?

Geological and Petroleum Technicians are largely needed in the Gulf Coast region for the Oil & Gas industry, but that's not all!

Advancement Opportunities Waiting for those Willing to Drill Deeper!

Once settled into the profession, you can demonstrate a specialization by getting one of the many certificated offered by the American Association of Professional Landmen and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists to use as a demstration of your improved skill levels.

Career advancement usually depends on job performance, technical-skill level, education, length of employment, and the ability to supervise. Candidates may become specialized, branch into other related occupations, or move up into management positions:

• With additional training or education may advance to geological or petroleum engineer
• Senior level positions with greater responsibility and higher pay
• Supervisory or management positions

Gulf Coast Region Geological and Petroleum Technician Programs

Most community colleges and universities offer degree programs in applied sciences. Although certificate or associate degree programs specific to geological and petroleum technicians are not offered by local colleges, the following universities offer 4-year degree programs in petroleum engineering:

Universities

• Louisiana State University
• Texas A&M University
• Texas Tech University
• University of Louisiana
• University of Oklahoma
• University of Texas at Austin

Major Employers in the Gulf Coast Region

If you have questions about our Industry/Occupation Profiles or are an organization in the Gulf Coast Region, please contact webmaster@wrksolutions.com.

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