Palaeontologists study the history of life on Earth through fossils.
£25,000 - £45,000
37 to 39 a week (between 8am and 6pm)
You'll need:
You can get into this job through a university course.
You'll usually need to complete a first degree followed by further study for postgraduate qualifications at master's or PhD level.
Subjects include:
Employers like universities or research institutions will expect you to have completed, or be working towards, a PhD in your specialist area of interest in palaeontology.
You'll usually need:
Volunteering at your local museum can help you learn more about palaeontology, especially where the museum has a fossil collection.
You can also get involved in activities organised by geology and fossil hunting societies, like Rockwatch and the Jurassic Coast Trust.
You can join The Palaeontology Association for professional development opportunities and to make contacts in the profession.
You can find more information about how to become a palaeontologist from The Palaeontological Association and the Natural History Museum.
As a palaeontologist, you could:
You could work in a laboratory, in a museum, at a university or visit sites.
Your working environment may be physically demanding and you may spend nights away from home.
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