by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, paleontology was the 1,349 most popular major nationwide with 9 degrees awarded. This represents a 11.1% reduction in paleontology degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 10.
This year's Best Paleontology Schools ranking compares 1 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom paleontology rankings further below.
A major in paleontology prepares you for careers in which talking to others to convey information effectively is crucial. Required skills include understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
paleontology degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. In addition to these basic paleontology program qualifications, to serve in some paleontology careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Paleontology degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in paleontology to something that takes less time like a . Paleontology programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to paleontology, with approximately 30.8% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for paleontology workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 31.9% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 26.5% |
| Doctoral Degree | 23.6% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 10.1% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 5.6% |
About 63.6% of workers in careers related to paleontology obtain at least master's degrees. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in paleontology careers have.
This of course varies depending on which paleontology career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your paleontology degree? Paleontology careers are expected to grow 11.2% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to paleontology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
| Geoscientists | 36,500 | 14.1% |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Professors | 14,400 | 9.9% |
As you might expect, salaries for paleontology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for paleontology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers paleontology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Geoscientists | $107,800 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Professors | $101,890 |
With over 4 different paleontology degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased paleontology school rankings to help you with this.
One of 6 majors within the Geological & Earth Sciences area of study, Paleontology has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Geology & Earth Sciences | 6,024 |
| Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 767 |
| Chemical & Physical Oceanography | 508 |
| Geophysics & Seismology | 243 |
| Hydrology & Water Resources Science | 221 |
