Average Salary for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
SOC 19-2042 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers in the United States is $99,240 ($47.71/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $58,790 at the 10th percentile to $178,880 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 22,510 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 10.4% since 2014.
Median Annual
$99,240
Mean Annual
$111,310
10th Pct
$58,790
75th Pct
$134,350
Employment
22,510
Salary Distribution
$59k
10th
$72k
25th
$99k
Median
$134k
75th
$179k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $168,280 |
| Midland, TX | $165,830 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $142,150 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $136,250 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $130,580 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $129,880 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $129,730 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $128,710 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $128,240 |
| Tulsa, OK | $126,270 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $124,270 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $122,450 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $120,600 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $120,580 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $120,550 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Texas | $155,330 |
| Rhode Island | $128,870 |
| Oklahoma | $128,240 |
| Mississippi | $113,730 |
| California | $111,400 |
| Alaska | $105,910 |
| Utah | $104,000 |
| Vermont | $102,190 |
| Hawaii | $100,690 |
| Colorado | $99,900 |
| Washington | $99,780 |
| Maryland | $99,200 |
| Massachusetts | $98,720 |
| West Virginia | $95,640 |
| Missouri | $95,210 |
| Oregon | $95,120 |
| Florida | $95,110 |
| Nevada | $95,090 |
| Virginia | $94,160 |
| New Mexico | $93,720 |
| North Dakota | $90,770 |
| Idaho | $89,860 |
| Nebraska | $85,500 |
| Illinois | $85,420 |
| New York | $84,910 |
| Montana | $84,630 |
| Arizona | $83,630 |
| Delaware | $82,970 |
| Michigan | $81,800 |
| Wisconsin | $80,610 |
| Alabama | $80,310 |
| North Carolina | $79,710 |
| Indiana | $79,290 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,890 |
| New Jersey | $78,840 |
| Connecticut | $78,460 |
| New Hampshire | $78,050 |
| Maine | $77,210 |
| Kansas | $76,980 |
| Tennessee | $76,610 |
| South Carolina | $76,600 |
| Ohio | $73,120 |
| Iowa | $73,070 |
| Wyoming | $72,590 |
| Minnesota | $72,490 |
| Louisiana | $72,340 |
| South Dakota | $72,280 |
| Kentucky | $68,990 |
| Puerto Rico | $68,830 |
| Arkansas | $65,250 |
| Georgia | $62,850 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $169,220 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $169,220 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $160,770 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $160,770 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $160,770 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $148,760 |
| Manufacturing | $133,590 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $132,130 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $132,130 |
| Utilities | $126,100 |
| Utilities | $126,100 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $122,910 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $121,400 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $120,360 |
| Office Administrative Services | $120,360 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | $119,310 |
| Pipeline Transportation | $119,310 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $116,470 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $116,470 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $104,760 |
| Metal Ore Mining | $104,760 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $103,590 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $103,590 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $101,500 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $101,500 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $99,260 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $99,200 |
| Employment Services | $96,290 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $95,730 |
| Temporary Help Services | $91,480 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $87,190 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $87,190 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $86,780 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $86,620 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $86,570 |
| Engineering Services | $86,350 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $85,670 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $85,450 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $85,450 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | $84,110 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | $84,050 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $83,420 |
| Educational Services | $82,420 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $80,580 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $79,040 |
| Construction | $77,200 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $76,280 |
| Educational Services | $76,280 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $66,720 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $59,910 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $54,820 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $99,240 |
| 2023 | $92,580 |
| 2022 | $87,480 |
| 2021 | $83,680 |
| 2020 | $93,580 |
| 2019 | $92,040 |
| 2018 | $91,130 |
| 2017 | $89,850 |
| 2016 | $89,780 |
| 2015 | $89,700 |
| 2014 | $89,910 |