Occupation · SOC 17-2151
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
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.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
46 mapped
Core skills
Complex Problem SolvingSpeakingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingWritingActive ListeningMonitoring
Knowledge areas
Engineering and TechnologyMathematicsEnglish LanguageProduction and ProcessingDesign
Technology & tools
Computer aided design CAD softwareOffice suite softwareNetwork security or virtual private network VPN management softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareAnalytical or scientific software
Representative tasks
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 safUse drone technology for aerial surveys and inspections of mining sites to enhance safety and efficiency.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Technical reports for mining operations — draft structured documents under direct supervision using office suite and spreadsheet software to support engineering and management personnel.Mining area inspections — conduct walkthroughs of surface and underground sites under senior engineer guidance to identify unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.Geological maps and drilling location data — interpret basic information with supervisor support to describe the accessibility and general characteristics of mineral deposits.Mineral extraction methods — review and summarize established protocols under direction, comparing safety, cost, and deposit characteristics in entry-level project assignments.Mine production rate data — collect and organize operational metrics using database and spreadsheet tools to assist in routine monitoring of extraction effectiveness.Cost estimate worksheets — assemble preliminary figures for mine development activities under close oversight, applying basic mathematics and provided templates.CAD and geographic information system software — operate under supervision to produce simple site maps and layout drawings for mining project teams.Engineering standards and regulatory codes — read and comprehend applicable mining safety requirements to support compliance checks on assigned work sites.Analytical and scientific software — input field data and run prescribed models under guidance to assist geological assessment of ore deposits.Field survey personnel and technicians — observe and participate in coordinated site activities, learning team communication protocols on active mining projects.
developing
Technical reports on mine performance and safety — prepare independently formatted documents using office suite software, synthesizing field observations for engineering and management audiences.Underground and surface mining area inspections — conduct routine safety audits with reduced oversight, applying judgment to flag hazardous structures, equipment faults, and unsafe working conditions.Mineral location and extraction method selection — evaluate multiple approaches based on deposit characteristics, cost models, and safety criteria in familiar geological and operational contexts.Mine operation schedules and cost estimates — develop detailed project timelines and budget projections using ERP and spreadsheet software for standard underground or open-pit operations.Mine production monitoring — analyze operational output data regularly to assess efficiency trends and identify deviations from planned extraction rates.Site selection and layout planning — apply engineering and GIS tools to specify labor, equipment, and process requirements for economical and environmentally sound mineral extraction.Technicians and survey personnel — provide day-to-day task direction, on-the-job guidance, and performance feedback within established mine site workflows.Geological deposit assessments — examine maps, core samples, and drilling location data with moderate autonomy to estimate deposit size, value, and extraction feasibility.Systems analysis methods — apply structured analytical frameworks to evaluate mining process interactions and identify operational bottlenecks in production environments.Oral and written communications — present technical findings clearly to interdisciplinary project teams and regulatory contacts using presentation and email software platforms.
proficient
Comprehensive technical reports — author authoritative documents integrating geological, engineering, and financial data for senior management, regulators, and external stakeholders across complex mining operations.Full-scope mining area safety inspections — independently assess structural integrity, equipment condition, and worker exposure risks across multiple sites, recommending corrective actions and verifying remediation.Extraction and production method design — select and adapt advanced mining techniques for non-routine deposit configurations, balancing safety, environmental compliance, and economic optimization.End-to-end mine operation planning — specify complete underground or surface extraction sequences including process design, equipment selection, labor deployment, and environmental mitigation for large-scale projects.Mine development cost modeling — construct detailed multi-year financial estimates integrating capital, operating, and reclamation costs using ERP and analytical software with high accuracy and accountability.Production performance evaluation — monitor and interpret complex output metrics, applying systems evaluation methods to diagnose inefficiencies and drive continuous operational improvement.Engineering and technical staff supervision — lead, train, and evaluate engineers, scientists, technologists, and survey crews across project life cycles, fostering competency development and accountability.Mineral deposit viability analysis — autonomously synthesize geological, geochemical, and geospatial data from maps, core logs, and GIS platforms to deliver bankable reserve and resource assessments.Cross-functional problem resolution — apply deductive and inductive reasoning to diagnose novel operational, safety, and geological challenges and implement solutions within active mining environments.Regulatory and stakeholder engagement — communicate technical mining plans and safety compliance positions persuasively to government agencies, community groups, and executive leadership.
advanced
Organizational technical reporting standards — establish enterprise-wide frameworks and quality benchmarks for engineering and safety documentation used across multiple mine sites and business units.Corporate mine safety strategy — design and institutionalize proactive hazard identification systems, inspection protocols, and safety culture programs across an organization's full portfolio of mining operations.Strategic extraction method innovation — direct research, evaluation, and adoption of novel mineral extraction and processing technologies to advance organizational competitiveness and environmental performance.Portfolio-level mine planning — provide executive direction for the selection, sequencing, and optimization of multiple mining projects, integrating economic, geopolitical, and sustainability considerations.Capital investment and financial governance — lead the development and approval of major mine development budgets, resource allocation frameworks, and financial risk strategies at the executive level.Enterprise production performance oversight — establish key performance indicators, monitoring systems, and continuous improvement programs governing extraction effectiveness across an entire mining enterprise.Workforce capability development — architect mentorship, training, and career progression systems for engineering and technical professionals organization-wide, building long-term institutional expertise.Strategic mineral asset evaluation — lead acquisition, divestiture, and feasibility decisions by directing multidisciplinary assessments of deposit value, geopolitical risk, and market positioning.Cross-sector systems leadership — drive integration of engineering, environmental, regulatory, and financial systems to ensure holistic and sustainable operational outcomes across the organization.Industry and regulatory influence — represent the organization before government bodies, professional associations, and international standards groups to shape mining policy, safety regulation, and engineering practice.
Also known as
41 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Nonmetal Mine InspectorTest Engineer, Mining-and-Oil-Field EquipmentMine EngineerMine Environmental EngineerGeotechnical Project EngineerCoal Mine InspectorMining ConsultantSafety MonitorMine Development EngineerEngineerUnderground Mining EngineerSafety Engineer, MinesProject EngineerField EngineerSafety AnalystMining and Tunneling Project EngineerResearch Engineer, Mining-and-Oil-Well EquipmentMine InspectorSafety EngineerMine ExpertGeophysical EngineerSafety RepresentativeSeismic EngineerMine AnalystGeological EngineerDesign Engineer, Mining-and-Oil-Field EquipmentMine Safety EngineerGeotechnical EngineerOre Dressing EngineerMine Production EngineerMine Exploration EngineerSafety InspectorPlanning EngineerMining Project EngineerMining EngineerTailings EngineerSite Safety RepresentativeMining and Oil Well Equipment Research EngineerExploration EngineerMineral Engineer