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Mining & Petroleum Tech
Types of Degrees Mining & Petroleum Tech Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many mining & petroleum technology graduations there were in 2021-2022 for each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Associate Degree | 171 |
Basic Certificate | 169 |
Undergraduate Certificate | 54 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 16 |
What Mining & Petroleum Tech Majors Need to Know
O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to mining & petroleum tech and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.
Knowledge Areas for Mining & Petroleum Tech Majors
This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:
- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Skills for Mining & Petroleum Tech Majors
The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to mining & petroleum tech:
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Abilities for Mining & Petroleum Tech Majors
As a mining & petroleum tech major, you will find yourself needing the following abilities:
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
What Can You Do With a Mining & Petroleum Tech Major?
Below is a list of occupations associated with mining & petroleum tech:
Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Mechanical Engineering Technologists | 5.2% | $63,200 |
Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining | 23.4% | $47,860 |
Who Is Getting an Associate’s Degree in Mining & Petroleum Tech?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of mining & petroleum tech majors is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 2 |
Black or African American | 25 |
Hispanic or Latino | 21 |
White | 112 |
International Students | 1 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 10 |
Geographic Diversity
Students from other countries are interested in Mining & Petroleum Tech, too. About 0.6% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- Saudi Arabia
- Congo
How Much Do Mining & Petroleum Tech Majors Make?
Salaries According to BLS
Mining & Petroleum Tech majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $52,780 to $65,720 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Mining & Petroleum Tech
Some degrees associated with mining & petroleum tech may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.
Find out what the typical degree level is for mining & petroleum tech careers below.
Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
Less than a High School Diploma | 7.7% |
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) | 16.3% |
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) | 5.5% |
Some College Courses | 3.8% |
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 17.4% |
Bachelor’s Degree | 34.2% |
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 0.6% |
Master’s Degree | 13.3% |
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level. | 1.3% |
Post-Doctoral Training | 0.0% |
Online Mining & Petroleum Tech Programs
The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
---|---|---|
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 0 | 0 |
Certificate (1-2 years) | 21 | 0 |
Certificate (2-4 Years) | 1 | 0 |
Associate’s Degree | 32 | 1 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 0 | 0 |
Post-Baccalaureate | 0 | 0 |
Master’s Degree | 0 | 0 |
Post-Master’s | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Mining & Petroleum Tech Worth It?
The median salary for a mining & petroleum tech grad is $62,890 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 58% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $459,800 after 20 years!
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Trades Related to Mining & Petroleum Tech
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to mining & petroleum tech.
Major | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Industrial Production Technology | 11,288 |
Electromechanical Engineering Technology | 10,780 |
Environmental Control Technology | 9,376 |
Drafting & Design Engineering Technology | 8,822 |
Electronics Engineering Technology | 8,347 |
Engineering-Related Fields | 6,553 |
Mechanical Engineering Technology | 6,205 |
Construction Engineering Technology | 4,299 |
General Engineering Technology | 3,841 |
Quality Control Technology | 3,720 |
Computer Engineering Technology | 3,509 |
Engineering Technology (Other) | 1,907 |
Energy Systems Technologies | 1,277 |
Architectural Engineering Technology | 1,239 |
Civil Engineering Technology | 1,155 |
Engineering-Related Technologies | 969 |
Nuclear Engineering Technology | 235 |
Nanotechnology | 104 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
- Image Credit: By Jeffrey Beall under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.