Earth Science Technician
What the work is
Collects and tests earth and water samples, records observations, and analyses data in support of Geologists, Geophysicists and other earth scientists.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Assists in the collection, preparation, testing and analysis of rock, soil and water samples
- Calibrates and maintains testing equipment used by earth scientists
- Assists Geologists, Geophysicists and other earth scientists in the analysis of data
- Supports earth scientists in practical field operations by planning field work, arranging access to sites, and ensuring supplies and equipment are available for field surveys
- Conducts surveys on field sites and other areas of interest
- Collects, records and analyses weather conditions information
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a school science laboratory and prep room, supporting teachers and students through the school week. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A practical lesson goes smoothly because every piece of equipment was where the teacher needed it
- A student asks what you do and then wants to see the prep room
- A tricky experiment finally works, and a whole class cheers
Hard days
- A teacher asks for a practical lesson that needs preparing by first period tomorrow
- A spill or breakage that has to be handled safely before the next class arrives
- Cleaning, counting and labelling long after the students have left
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 311532, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.