STEM OPT Geologist Jobs
Geologist roles in mining, environmental consulting, and energy qualify for STEM OPT because geology degrees fall under eligible CIP codes. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension gives you up to 36 months of work authorization, provided your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and you file a signed I-983 training plan with your DSO.
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As the recognized resource and technical expert, this position serves as the Geographic Information System (GIS) Technical Support Geologist for groundwater related activities in the Geologic Resources Management Division (GRMD), Groundwater and Geological Services Section (GGSS) within the Groundwater Data Unit (GDU). This position applies advanced knowledge of hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, associated data, and field investigation methods to perform, analyze, and interpret complex geologic maps, geologic cross-sections, figures, story maps, forms, templates, and exhibits. Technical support also includes development, maintenance, and updating mobile and web-based GIS applications for groundwater, stream flow, and sediment data collection by staff within GRMD GGSS.
This position is responsible for ongoing development of EGLE’s new Statewide Groundwater Monitoring Network and administers grants from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for EGLE to be a data provider to the National Groundwater Monitoring Network (NGWMN). This includes collaborating with information technology (IT) and geographic information system (GIS) staff in the EGLE Information Management Division (IMD) and the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB). This position is responsible for identifying data gaps and selecting additional locations for new monitoring wells based on local and regional geology for the Statewide Groundwater Monitoring Network. This position is also responsible for preparing and submitting progress and final reports to USGS for existing grants and for applying for and administering future grants for additional activities as an NGWMN data provider.
This position participates in the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Groundwater Technical Team (GWTT), GIS user group, and collaborates with other Geologists and other GIS staff in GRMD, WRD, and other EGLE divisions. This position briefs the GDU Supervisor, the GGSS Manager, and GRMD leadership on groundwater related topics.
Position Description - 9-P11 level
Position Description - 12 level (Download PDF reader)
Required Education and Experience
Education
Possession of a bachelor's degree in geology or geological, petroleum or mining engineering.
Experience
Geologist 9
No specific type or amount is required.
Geologist 10
One year of professional experience in carrying out geological activities to protect, develop and maintain natural resources equivalent to a Geologist 9.
Geologist P11
Two years of professional experience in carrying out geological activities to protect, develop and maintain natural resources equivalent to a Geologist, including one year equivalent to a Geologist 10.
Geologist 12
Three years of professional experience in carrying out geological activities to protect, develop and maintain natural resources equivalent to a Geologist, including one year equivalent to Geologist P11.
Alternate Education and Experience
Possession of a bachelor's degree in environmental geoscience, earth science, or environmental science with 15 semester (23 quarter term) credits in the following core geology classes: physical geology, sedimentology/stratigraphy, mineralogy/petrology, structural geology and field instruction. In addition, the candidate must have 21 semester (32 quarter term) credits in elective geology coursework; and two courses each in calculus, chemistry and physics.
Additional Requirements and Information
NOTE: Equivalent combinations of education and experience that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be evaluated on an individual basis.
View the class specification at: https://www.michigan.gov/mdcs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdcs/JOBSPECS/G/Geologist.pdf (Download PDF reader)
Accommodations
If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or selection processes, please contact the ADA coordinator (Download PDF reader) for the agency that posted this position vacancy.
Job Description
As the recognized resource and technical expert, this position serves as the Geographic Information System (GIS) Technical Support Geologist for groundwater related activities in the Geologic Resources Management Division (GRMD), Groundwater and Geological Services Section (GGSS) within the Groundwater Data Unit (GDU). This position applies advanced knowledge of hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, associated data, and field investigation methods to perform, analyze, and interpret complex geologic maps, geologic cross-sections, figures, story maps, forms, templates, and exhibits. Technical support also includes development, maintenance, and updating mobile and web-based GIS applications for groundwater, stream flow, and sediment data collection by staff within GRMD GGSS.
This position is responsible for ongoing development of EGLE’s new Statewide Groundwater Monitoring Network and administers grants from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for EGLE to be a data provider to the National Groundwater Monitoring Network (NGWMN). This includes collaborating with information technology (IT) and geographic information system (GIS) staff in the EGLE Information Management Division (IMD) and the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB). This position is responsible for identifying data gaps and selecting additional locations for new monitoring wells based on local and regional geology for the Statewide Groundwater Monitoring Network. This position is also responsible for preparing and submitting progress and final reports to USGS for existing grants and for applying for and administering future grants for additional activities as an NGWMN data provider.
This position participates in the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Groundwater Technical Team (GWTT), GIS user group, and collaborates with other Geologists and other GIS staff in GRMD, WRD, and other EGLE divisions. This position briefs the GDU Supervisor, the GGSS Manager, and GRMD leadership on groundwater related topics.
Position Description - 9-P11 level
Position Description - 12 level (Download PDF reader)
Required Education and Experience
Education
Possession of a bachelor's degree in geology or geological, petroleum or mining engineering.
Experience
Geologist 9
No specific type or amount is required.
Geologist 10
One year of professional experience in carrying out geological activities to protect, develop and maintain natural resources equivalent to a Geologist 9.
Geologist P11
Two years of professional experience in carrying out geological activities to protect, develop and maintain natural resources equivalent to a Geologist, including one year equivalent to a Geologist 10.
Geologist 12
Three years of professional experience in carrying out geological activities to protect, develop and maintain natural resources equivalent to a Geologist, including one year equivalent to Geologist P11.
Alternate Education and Experience
Possession of a bachelor's degree in environmental geoscience, earth science, or environmental science with 15 semester (23 quarter term) credits in the following core geology classes: physical geology, sedimentology/stratigraphy, mineralogy/petrology, structural geology and field instruction. In addition, the candidate must have 21 semester (32 quarter term) credits in elective geology coursework; and two courses each in calculus, chemistry and physics.
Additional Requirements and Information
NOTE: Equivalent combinations of education and experience that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be evaluated on an individual basis.
View the class specification at: https://www.michigan.gov/mdcs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdcs/JOBSPECS/G/Geologist.pdf (Download PDF reader)
Accommodations
If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or selection processes, please contact the ADA coordinator (Download PDF reader) for the agency that posted this position vacancy.
See all 155+ STEM OPT Geologist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Geologist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Geologist
Verify your geology degree CIP code
Check that your degree was classified under a STEM-eligible CIP code before assuming you qualify for the 24-month extension. Geology programs typically fall under CIP 40.0601, but earth science variants differ. Confirm with your DSO before applying.
Filter employers by E-Verify enrollment status
STEM OPT requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify before your training plan is submitted. Use Migrate Mate to search Geologist roles filtered to E-Verify-enrolled employers, so you're not discovering the gap after an offer.
Draft your I-983 training plan early
Your I-983 must describe specific learning objectives tied to your geology work, not a generic job description. Outline field tasks, lab methods, or software skills you'll develop. Have a draft ready before your first offer conversation.
Target field offices in E-Verify-heavy industries
Federal contractors in mining, oil and gas, and environmental remediation are required to use E-Verify, making them reliable STEM OPT employers. Focus your search on companies holding government contracts rather than purely private-sector consulting firms.
Ask about OPT payroll setup before accepting offers
Some smaller geology firms have never hired an OPT student and may not know USCIS payroll requirements. Ask your HR contact whether they can pay you on a standard W-2 while your I-983 is active, and confirm E-Verify case initiation timing.
Understand cap-gap if you apply for H-1B
If you file an H-1B visa petition during STEM OPT, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year if your OPT would expire first. Confirm the exact cutoff with USCIS guidance and notify your DSO immediately after your receipt notice arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a geology degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Geology degrees qualify if your program was classified under a STEM-eligible CIP code, most commonly CIP 40.0601 for geology and earth science. Related programs like geophysics, geochemistry, and environmental geology also appear on the STEM Designated Degree Program List. Confirm your specific CIP code with your DSO before filing your STEM OPT extension application, since the degree title alone doesn't determine eligibility.
What does the I-983 training plan need to include for a Geologist role?
Your I-983 must describe how the Geologist position provides practical training directly related to your degree. For geology roles, that means identifying specific technical skills you'll develop, such as geological mapping, core sample analysis, GIS software, or subsurface modeling. Vague descriptions like 'field work' aren't sufficient. Your employer's supervisor must sign the form, and your DSO must receive it before your STEM OPT start date.
How do I confirm my employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for STEM OPT employers. You can ask your employer's HR team directly for their E-Verify Company ID, or check the E-Verify employer search tool on the E-Verify website. Enrollment must be active, not lapsed. If an employer isn't enrolled, they can register with E-Verify before your training plan is submitted, but that process adds lead time to your start date.
Can I work as a Geologist for a staffing agency or contract firm on STEM OPT?
USCIS allows STEM OPT through staffing arrangements only if the employer of record, not the client site, is enrolled in E-Verify and signs the I-983. The training must occur at the client site, but your I-983 is with the staffing firm. This setup creates compliance complexity, so confirm in writing before accepting that the staffing agency will fulfill all STEM OPT employer obligations.
Where can I find Geologist jobs with employers already enrolled in E-Verify?
Migrate Mate lists Geologist positions filtered to employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment, so you don't have to screen for that requirement manually during your search. Federal contractors in mining, energy, and environmental remediation are among the most common geology employers required to participate in E-Verify, making those sectors a practical starting point for STEM OPT candidates.