Geochemist
Studies the chemical composition and processes of the Earth. Analyses rocks, minerals, water and soils to understand geological processes, mineral exploration, environmental contamination and climate history recorded in geochemical archives.
- AI exposure
- 22 of 100, low exposure
- Hiring trend
- Rising
- Hiring rate
- 35%
The role
What the work is, what it pays, and what it costs you.
At a glance
- Remote friendly
- No
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Time to senior
- 8 years
- Adaptation level
- Moderate
A day in the role
Analyses water samples from a mining area for heavy metal contamination, interprets isotopic data from rock cores, maps geochemical anomalies, and writes an environmental assessment report.
What it pays
Kenyan market, per month- Entry
- KES 95,000-140,000
- Mid
- KES 180,000-300,000
- Senior
- KES 370,000-630,000
Exposure
How much of this a machine can already do, and how that was worked out.
Where this rating sits
1,516 rated careersRated above 15% of the 1,516 careers in the catalogue, which averages 43. Inside science the mean is 45, across 71 careers.
What the rating is made of
Share of recorded tasks- Machine does it
- 12%Software can already complete this work end to end.
- Machine assists
- 38%A person still decides, but the drafting is done for them.
- Person does it
- 50%Judgement, relationships and accountability that do not transfer.
Named task by task
Already automated
- Analysing geochemical data patterns
- Predicting mineral deposits from geochemical signatures
- Automating mass spectrometry data processing
- Generating geological model drafts
Still human
- Collecting rock, water and soil samples
- Conducting geochemical analyses
- Interpreting isotopic and elemental data
- Mapping geochemical distributions
- Writing research and exploration reports
Getting in
The routes into the role and what each one asks for.
What to study
8 courses- Diploma in Dairy TechnologyKsh 64,120a year
- Craft Certificate in Food Processing and Preservation TechnologyKsh 67,189a year
- Diploma in Analytical BiologyKsh 67,189a year
- Diploma in Analytical ChemistryKsh 67,189a year
- Diploma in Applied BiologyKsh 67,189a year
- Diploma in Food Science and TechnologyKsh 67,189a year
- Diploma in Petroleum and GeoscienceKsh 67,189a year
- Diploma in Science Laboratory TechnologyKsh 67,189a year
How people get in
Geology or chemistry degree
4 yearsHigh cost
BSc from UoN, JKUAT or Chiromo
Geochemistry postgrad
2-4 yearsHigh cost
MSc or PhD Geochemistry
Who hires
- Mines and Geological Department Kenya
- Base Titanium Kenya
- Acacia Mining Kenya
- University of Nairobi
- National Environment Management Authority
Common misconceptions
Geochemistry is just rocks
It covers water chemistry, soil contamination, isotope dating, mineral exploration and environmental monitoring.
Only for mining
Geochemists work in environmental protection, water resources, petroleum exploration, agriculture and climate research.
What happens next
How the role changes from here, and where it leads.
Supply and demand
- Demand
- 35
- Supply pressure
- 8
- Balance
- High demand
What to learn
- Mass spectrometry
- Geochemical mapping
- Isotope geochemistry
Related careers
Kenyan market notes
Kenya's mining sector is growing with Base Titanium in Kwale and gold mining in western Kenya. Environmental monitoring of mining impacts requires geochemists. Groundwater quality assessment also needs geochemical expertise.
Further reading
This role is rated 22 out of 100 today. Save it and the app keeps that number, then tells you by how much it has moved when the record is next reviewed.