What Is A Paleontologist? | Career Path And Overview - Zippia

Overview

JobsEducationDemographicsJob DescriptionHow To HireJob OutlookCompareFAQsWhat is a paleontologist and how to become oneWritten by Zippia teamUpdated January 8, 20252 min readQuoted expert Dr. David Barbeau Jr.There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a paleontologist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $43.58 an hour? That's $90,653 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 1,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a paleontologist?

Dr. David Barbeau Jr.

University of South Carolina - Columbia

I love geology because it is a dynamic and diverse field that is the foundation upon which all realms of society are built. From physical geography to food, from human history to economies, geology plays an influential role in everything. Geology requires and develops critical thinking, and involves solving puzzles, and generating new knowledge, hence is a very enjoyable pursuit.ScorePaleontologistUS AverageSalary7.1

Avg. Salary $90,653

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level5.5

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity3.8Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.53%

Asian 2.66%

Black or African American 0.50%

Hispanic or Latino 5.31%

Unknown 4.48%

White 86.52%

Gender

female 19.35%

male 80.65%

Age - 44Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44Stress level5.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level9.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

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Key steps to become a paleontologist

1. Explore paleontologist education requirements

   Most common paleontologist degrees

   Bachelor's

   66.7 %

   Master's

   22.2 %

   Diploma

   3.7 %Show more

2. Start to develop specific paleontologist skills

   Skills	Percentages
   Nepa	77.16%
   Natural History	22.84%

3. Complete relevant paleontologist training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New paleontologists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a paleontologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real paleontologist resumes.

4. Research paleontologist duties and responsibilities

   • Develop and/or lead short courses and seminars on eolian sedimentology, the characterization of heterogeneous reservoirs and reservoir management.
   • Assist in excavations of dinosaurs, Champsosaurus, early reptiles and prehistoric fish.
   • Record field data using Trimble GPS and iPads to collect survey and monitoring data.
   • Prepare proposals, supervise monitoring and sampling activities and prepare annual and quarterly reports in accordance with Ohio EPA requirements.

5. Prepare your paleontologist resume

   When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your paleontologist resume.

   You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a paleontologist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

   Choose from 10+ customizable paleontologist resume templates

   Build a professional paleontologist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your paleontologist resume.Use this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this template

6. Apply for paleontologist jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for a paleontologist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams

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Average paleontologist salary

The average paleontologist salary in the United States is $90,653 per year or $44 per hour. Paleontologist salaries range between $63,000 and $129,000 per year.

Average paleontologist salary$90,653 Yearly$43.58 hourly

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Paleontologist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020Cons

Hard to find a job.

Working as a paleontologist? Share your experience anonymously.Overall rating*Career growthWork/Life balancePay/SalaryPros of working as a PaleontologistCons of working as a PaleontologistSubmit anonymous review

Paleontologist FAQs

How hard is it to become a paleontologist?

What are careers in paleontology?

What companies hire paleontologists?

What does a paleontologist wear?

What should I study to become a paleontologist?

Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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