I start my day by hopping on the computer to see what operations have happened. Then I gather a few teammates and tour the whole site to evaluate operation and safety. Back at the office, I put together a plan and present it at a mid-day meeting so all of the supervisors in survey, engineering, open pit, and drill and blast can contribute. We finalize a 24-hour mine plan in the meeting. I also go on an end-of-day tour to make sure the plan is working and that we’re ready for the next crew.
CAREER
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$93,800
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+4.2% (slower than the average)
Most Common Level of Education
Bachelor's degree
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Do
Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs.
Other Job Titles Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers May Have
Mine Engineer, Mining Consultant, Mining Engineer, Planning Engineer, Project Engineer, Safety Engineer, Safety Representative
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Prepare technical reports for use by mining, engineering, and management personnel.
- Inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
- Select or develop mineral location, extraction, and production methods, based on factors such as safety, cost, and deposit characteristics.
- Select locations and plan underground or surface mining operations, specifying processes, labor usage, and equipment that will result in safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction of minerals and ores.
- Prepare schedules, reports, and estimates of the costs involved in developing and operating mines.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Bachelor's degree (53%)
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Doctoral or professional degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Public speaking and communication skills are important in mine planning because you have to be able to present your plan well to your team and supervisors.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
Everyone
We offer a lot of different internships in different departments here. If this seems like an industry you want to get into, you can get that hands-on experience through an internship.
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
