Why Study Mining Engineering?
Employment of mining and geological engineers is projected to grow 3 percent from 2018 to 2028. The field of mining engineering can also be quite lucrative.
What they do is design mines, develop new technology, and create mining equipment in order to efficiently and safely extract minerals or metals. They often work with a team of other scientists and engineers. Mining engineers can specialise in a particular mineral or metal, such as copper or diamonds.
This career is ideal for those with interests in Building, Thinking and Persuading interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Mining Engineer?
There are several requirements to meet before embarking on this career. The path to becoming a mining engineer typically takes 4-6 years. If interested in a mining engineering career, proper education is the first step.
Mining Engineer Education Requirements
Some colleges and universities offer mining engineering or geological engineering programmes, but this is rare. However, similar degrees such as civil or environmental engineering or geoscience are often accepted. At least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited engineering programme is required to become a mining engineer, but there are several graduate programmes available for career advancement.
Accreditation mining and geological engineering programs, comes from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET), whose accreditation is based on factors such as faculty, curriculum, and facilities.
Some subjects involved in mining engineering include
- geology
- physics
- thermodynamics
- mathematics
- mine safety
- chemistry
- fluid mechanics
- mining operation
- mine design
- metallurgy
- environmental reclamation
If you do pursue a related engineering degree, try to take courses that align with these subjects. Mining engineering programs often include laboratory and field work experience as well as.
4 Steps to Becoming a Mining Engineer
Education and licensing requirements for mining engineers will vary depending on location and position, but generally they follow similar common steps and procedures:
Earn a Degree
The first step to becoming a mining engineer is to earn a degree from an ABET-accredited institution. A bachelor’s degree will suffice for most positions. Postgraduate programmes are also available and may be necessary for some positions.
Qualify for Licensure
To begin working, licensure may not be required for entry-level positions. However, to advance your career as a mining engineer a license will be required. To qualify, applicants must have:
- A passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam which college graduates may take immediately to become engineers in training (EITs) or engineer interns (EIs)
- Four years of relevant work experience
- The last step for licensure is to take the Professional Engineering (PE) exam. A passing score on the PE exam qualifies one for licensure
Apply for Jobs
Once you have earned your degree or license, you may begin applying for jobs. New engineers will generally work under the supervision of more experienced engineers.
Take a look at our Graduate Hub, where we offer an incredible range of career opportunities across the globe. Each opportunity demands particular skills, but there are certain qualities we look for in all our people.
Continued Professional Development
Some states require engineers to participate in continued professional development activities to maintain licensure.
To learn more about mining engineers and find professional development opportunities, visit the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.
5 Skills that Mining Engineers Use Every Day
While not a hard skill, one thing that always helps a mining engineer is having passion for the way mining can be used to improve people's lives. Beyond that, there are a range of job duties for mining engineers. To fulfill these duties, it is important for engineers to possess the following skillset:
Analytical skills
Mining engineers examine the wider implications of their immediate actions. They must be able to problem-solve by considering several potentially complicated and connected issues at the same time.
Decision-making skills
Mining engineers make decisions that can affect miner’s lives, the company, and the surrounding environment. Identifying potential problems and dealing with them immediately is essential.
Logical-thinking skills
Mine operations, mineral processing, and rehabilitation all require planning from engineers. They must be able to put work plans into a coherent, logical sequence.
Math skills
In their work, mining engineers require knowledge of principles of calculus, trigonometry, and other advanced topics in math.
Writing skills
Mining engineers need to convey their plans to their team. They prepare reports and instructions for others on their team, so clear and concise writing is crucial for communication.
Mining Engineer Careers and Salary
Depending on the position, region and experience, mining engineers' salaries will differ. The average Mining Engineer salary in United Kingdom is £65,000 per year or £33.33 per hour. The most experienced workers make up to £90,000 per year. According to Prospects, the average starting salary for mining engineers was between £21,000 and £27,000.
Salaries can vary considerably overseas. Annual wages for mining and geological engineers overseas were as follows:
- In Australia miners earn an average of £35598 per year
- In South Africa miners typically earn anywhere between £34152 and £49472
- In the United States, the median annual salary for mining engineers was £69,110.
As a mining engineer, you can expect to work at least full time with some working more than 40 hours in a week. For engineers working on the location of remote mines, expect to work more than usual. Depending on the severity of work conditions, such as extreme weather conditions, some jobs may offer more in salary. Those working overseas typically work on site for around three months with two weeks' leave.
Typical employers of mining engineers include:
- mining companies
- quarrying companies
- extraction companies
- environmental consultancies
- large construction and manufacturing companies
- mining consultancies
This is a sampling of what a mining engineer career and salary may look like, but salaries vary between employers, countries, and sectors.
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