Architecture & Engineering
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
Also called: Mine Engineer, Mining Consultant, Mining Engineer, Planning Engineer
US median pay
$106,220
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+3.8%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
300
6,200 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Monitor mine production rates to assess operational effectiveness.
- Supervise, train, and evaluate technicians, technologists, survey personnel, engineers, scientists or other mine personnel.
- Examine maps, deposits, drilling locations, or mines to determine the location, size, accessibility, contents, value, and potential profitability of mineral, oil, and gas deposits.
- Design, implement, and monitor the development of mines, facilities, systems, or equipment.
- Test air to detect toxic gases and recommend measures to remove them, such as installation of ventilation shafts.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Complex Problem Solving4.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0/5
- Systems Evaluation3.8/5
- Systems Analysis3.8/5
- Coordination3.5/5
- Time Management3.4/5
- Operations Analysis3.1/5
- Instructing3.1/5
Knowledge
- Engineering and Technology4.5/5
- Mathematics4.4/5
- English Language3.6/5
- Production and Processing3.6/5
- Design3.6/5
- Administration and Management3.4/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree79%
- Post-baccalaureate certificate17%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.