Geologist earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level geologist earnings begin at:

$54.68 per hour

$113,720 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level geologist earnings begin at:

$50.45 per hour

$104,940 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level geologist earnings begin at:

$38.37 per hour

$79,810 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level geologist earnings begin at:

$29.78 per hour

$61,940 per year

10th percentile

Starting level geologist earnings begin at:

$23.26 per hour

$48,380 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Geologist salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Alaska $98,970
California $98,350
Washington $94,050
Rhode Island $92,370
Colorado $91,800
Mississippi $87,820
Virginia $86,530
New Jersey $82,710
Oregon $82,640
Hawaii $82,220
Florida $80,290
Arizona $80,270
Wyoming $80,220
Connecticut $79,810
North Dakota $79,810
Utah $79,800
Missouri $79,510
Tennessee $79,500
Nevada $79,330
Alabama $79,300
Idaho $79,260
Nebraska $79,250
Maryland $78,760
New York $78,760
Illinois $78,340
Montana $78,340
South Dakota $78,000
Ohio $77,750
Delaware $76,870
Vermont $76,270
Iowa $76,050
Pennsylvania $74,710
North Carolina $72,840
New Hampshire $72,210
New Mexico $70,660
Minnesota $67,420
South Carolina $66,790
Louisiana $65,380
Michigan $64,430
Arkansas $64,290
Indiana $64,290
Kansas $64,290
Maine $63,520
Puerto Rico $61,860
West Virginia $61,820
Georgia $60,300
Wisconsin $53,410
Kentucky $51,180
Texas $130,030
Oklahoma $127,280
District of Columbia $119,790
Massachusetts $100,840

How do geologist salaries compare to similar careers?

Geologists earn 6% less than similar careers in Connecticut. On average, they make less than scientists but more than soil and water conservationists.

Career Median Salary
Scientist salary $99K
Neuropsychologist salary $114K
Epidemiologist salary $82K
Food science technologist salary $91K
Industrial ecologist salary $79K
Geologist salary $80K
Forensic science technician salary $79K
Soil and plant scientist salary $77K
Geodesist salary $77K
Soil and water conservationist salary $64K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)