Seismologist
Seismologists study shock waves created by earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. They also work in oil, gas and minerals exploration.
Typical Salary
£24,000 – £50,000
per year
Working Hours
37–42
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
As a seismologist, you could:
- monitor and analyse data from seismic sensors around the world
- map seismic regions and fault lines in the Earth's surface
- develop early warning systems for earthquake zones
- produce surveys for mining, engineering and energy companies
- supervise students on field trips
- train professionals working in related fields like disaster risk reduction
Skills needed
- knowledge of geography
- science skills
- maths knowledge
- analytical thinking skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- excellent written communication skills
- knowledge of physics
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- working towards this role
Career progression
You could become a project co-ordinator or manager with a seismic research organisation, university or energy company.
In a university post, once you've got experience and published original research, you could become a senior research fellow or professor.