Quick answer: Geologists, Geophysicists and Hydrogeologists are less stress-exposed than most Australian occupations — ranked #297 of 317 by workplace mental health hazard exposure, with a composite stress score of 38.7/100 against a national average of 47.4.
Geologists, Geophysicists and Hydrogeologists stress profile vs the national average
Each occupation is scored across six categories of workplace mental health hazard, built from 22 stress factors identified in SafeWork Australia's occupational hazards data. Higher scores mean greater exposure.
- Emotional demands24.2 vs 37.9 avg
- Responsibility burden49.9 vs 60 avg
- Pace and demands52.4 vs 56 avg
- Lack of control20.8 vs 24.5 avg
- Precision and monotony58.5 vs 67.7 avg
- Physical environment26.3 vs 38.2 avg
Scores range 0–100; higher = more stress-inducing. Source: SafeWork Australia Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset.
What drives the score for geologists, geophysicists and hydrogeologists
The occupation scores below the national average for emotional demands (24.2 vs 37.9), physical environment (26.3 vs 38.2) and responsibility burden (49.9 vs 60), which moderates the overall ranking.
See how this compares across all 317 Australian occupations, ranked by stress score.
The biggest stress factors for geologists, geophysicists and hydrogeologists
- 1Pace and demands
Duration of Typical Work Week
84.5/100
All-occupation average: 62.1
- 2Precision and monotony
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
69.2/100
All-occupation average: 78.6
- 3Pace and demands
Time Pressure
61/100
All-occupation average: 71.6
- 4Responsibility burden
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
60.2/100
All-occupation average: 70.4
- 5Pace and demands
Level of Competition
58.5/100
All-occupation average: 52.4
All 22 stress factors for geologists, geophysicists and hydrogeologists
The complete scorecard: every stress factor measured for this occupation, grouped into the six categories, with the all-occupation average alongside.
Emotional demands
24.2 vs 37.9 avg- Deal With Physically Aggressive People7 vs 14
- Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People31.2 vs 50.4
- Frequency of Conflict Situations34.5 vs 49.3
Responsibility burden
49.9 vs 60 avg- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results48.5 vs 58.5
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety50.8 vs 57.3
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results60.2 vs 70.4
- Consequence of Error34.5 vs 49
- Coordinate or Lead Others55.5 vs 64.9
Pace and demands
52.4 vs 56 avg- Time Pressure61 vs 71.6
- Duration of Typical Work Week84.5 vs 62.1
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment8.5 vs 23.1
- Frequency of Decision Making49.2 vs 70.7
- Level of Competition58.5 vs 52.4
Lack of control
20.8 vs 24.5 avg- Lack of Autonomy to Make Decisions19.5 vs 23.6
- Amount of Highly Structured Work22 vs 25.3
Precision and monotony
58.5 vs 67.7 avg- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks47.8 vs 56.9
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate69.2 vs 78.6
Physical environment
26.3 vs 38.2 avg- Sounds and Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable36.8 vs 52.3
- Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting21 vs 24.9
- Very Hot or Cold Temperatures30.8 vs 32.4
- Exposed to Disease or Infections4 vs 20.2
- Physical Proximity39 vs 61.1
Methodology
Clearhead scored 317 occupations in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) using SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. We kept only the 22 hazard variables relating to mental health — such as conflict exposure, decision-making pressure, and time pressure — and deliberately excluded physical safety risks like working at height.
The 22 variables are grouped into six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment. An occupation's composite score is the equally weighted average of its six category scores. All scores run 0–100, where higher means more stress-inducing.
Two control-related variables are reported by SafeWork with inverted polarity (“freedom to make decisions” and “structured versus unstructured work”). We reverse these and present them as lack of autonomy to make decisions and amount of highly structured work, so that a higher score consistently indicates greater stress exposure.
Hazard exposure describes the average conditions of an occupation, not any individual's experience — everyone has a different tolerance for these challenges, and conditions vary between workplaces.
Frequently asked questions
Geologists, Geophysicists and Hydrogeologists: how stressful is the job?
Geologists, Geophysicists and Hydrogeologists rank #297 out of 317 Australian occupations for workplace mental health hazards, with a composite stress score of 38.7/100 against a national average of 47.4. That makes the occupation more stress-exposed than 6.3% of Australian jobs.
What are the biggest mental health stress factors for geologists, geophysicists and hydrogeologists?
The highest-scoring hazards are duration of typical work week (84.5/100), importance of being exact or accurate (69.2/100) and time pressure (61/100).
Which stress factors are lower for geologists, geophysicists and hydrogeologists?
Geologists, Geophysicists and Hydrogeologists score below the national average for emotional demands (24.2 vs 37.9 average) and responsibility burden (49.9 vs 60 average) and pace and demands (52.4 vs 56 average) and lack of control (20.8 vs 24.5 average) and precision and monotony (58.5 vs 67.7 average) and physical environment (26.3 vs 38.2 average), which partially offsets the higher-scoring hazards.
Where does this data come from?
Scores are derived from SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. Clearhead filtered the dataset to the 22 mental-health-related hazard variables — excluding physical safety risks — and scored 317 ANZSCO occupations across six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment.
Beyond the average
This is the average hazard exposure for geologists, geophysicists and hydrogeologists. Your workforce isn't average.
Clearhead's Psychosocial Risk Pulse measures the actual psychosocial risk in your organisation, quarterly — across 18 ISO 45003-aligned work factors.