Stardew Valley Mining Professions
The Mining fork splits along a clean line: Miner is the materials branch and Geologist is the gems and museum branch. Both level 10 pairs then split again into one profession that raises sell prices and one that raises how often you find something.
How you level it: Breaking rocks. It does not matter whether a pickaxe, a bomb or a monster destroys them.
If you take Miner at level 5
Miner
Level 5+1 ore per vein.
Then at level 10 you choose between
Blacksmith
Level 10Metal bars worth 50% more.
It covers copper, iron, gold, iridium and radioactive bars. Bars only, so smelt before you sell.
Prospector
Level 10Chance to find coal doubled.
Which to take: Blacksmith is the profitable half of this fork. Prospector solves a problem that a few crystalariums, a charcoal kiln or a coal-heavy Skull Cavern run also solve, and coal stops being scarce once any of those are running.
Miner is a level 5 Mining profession.If you take Geologist at level 5
Geologist
Level 5Chance for gems to appear in pairs.
The chance is 50% per mining node, and it applies to geodes that break out of rocks as well.
Then at level 10 you choose between
Excavator
Level 10Chance to find geodes doubled.
It applies to all four geode types.
Gemologist
Level 10Gems worth 30% more.
It applies to minerals as well as gems.
Which to take: Gemologist is the money pick, and it compounds with crystalariums, which turn one gem into an endless supply. Excavator is the museum pick, because geodes are where most of the missing minerals come from.
Geologist is a level 5 Mining profession.You can change your mind later
Donate 10,000g and pick one skill. That night you get its level 5 screen again, then its level 10 screen. Your existing bonuses drop the moment you choose a skill to change, and sell-price bonuses will not apply to anything already sitting in the shipping bin that day. The Sewers
Frequently asked questions
Miner or Geologist?
Miner if you need materials, and most farms do. An extra ore per vein compounds across every tool upgrade, every sprinkler and every building. Geologist is the pick if you are chasing minerals for the museum or planning a crystalarium setup, since it gives a 50% chance per node for gems to come in pairs.
Blacksmith or Prospector?
Blacksmith. A 50% lift on copper, iron, gold, iridium and radioactive bars is real income, and it applies to bars rather than ore, so smelt before you sell. Prospector doubles coal drops, but coal stops being scarce as soon as you have a charcoal kiln or a few crystalariums.
Excavator or Gemologist?
Gemologist if you want gold, because 30% applies to minerals as well as gems and it pairs with crystalariums, which duplicate one gem indefinitely. Excavator if the museum is still unfinished, since geodes are where most of the missing minerals come from and it doubles your geode find rate across all four types.
Does Miner's extra ore apply to gems?
No. Miner adds one ore per vein, which covers ore nodes. Gems come in pairs through Geologist instead, and that roll is a separate 50% chance per mining node.