Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Wide pay band SOC 19-2042

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

The published band from $59,330 to $200,230 is the distinctive signal for this role, not a twin of Political Scientists.

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers: Political Scientists ($142K) , Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($101K) , Biochemists and Biophysicists ($127K) , Psychologists, All Other ($111K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 19-2042 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Plan or conduct geological, geochemical, or geophysical field studies or surveys, sample collection, or drilling and testing programs use…
  2. 2. Analyze and interpret geological data, using computer software
  3. 3. Investigate the composition, structure, or history of the Earth's crust through the collection, examination, measurement, or classificati…
  4. 4. Analyze and interpret geological, geochemical, or geophysical information from sources, such as survey data, well logs, bore holes, or ae…
  5. 5. Identify risks for natural disasters, such as mudslides, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions
  6. 6. Assess ground or surface water movement to provide advice on issues, such as waste management, route and site selection, or the restorati…
  7. 7. Prepare geological maps, cross-sectional diagrams, charts, or reports concerning mineral extraction, land use, or resource management, us…
  8. 8. Communicate geological findings by writing research papers, participating in conferences, or teaching geological science at universities
  9. 9. Inspect construction projects to analyze engineering problems, using test equipment or drilling machinery
  10. 10. Provide advice on the safe siting of new nuclear reactor projects or methods of nuclear waste management
  11. 11. Locate and estimate probable natural gas, oil, or mineral ore deposits or underground water resources, using aerial photographs, charts…
  12. 12. Advise construction firms or government agencies on dam or road construction, foundation design, land use, or resource management

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers: O*NET ranks Reading Comprehension first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 19-2042 - lead skill Reading Comprehension at 4.1 ; lead knowledge Geography. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Reading Comprehension 4.1
  2. 2. Speaking 4.0
  3. 3. Science 4.0
  4. 4. Critical Thinking 4.0
  5. 5. Active Listening 3.9
  6. 6. Writing 3.9
  7. 7. Complex Problem Solving 3.9
  8. 8. Judgment and Decision Making 3.9

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Geography 4.0
  2. 2. Mathematics 3.8
  3. 3. English Language 3.8
  4. 4. Chemistry 3.8
  5. 5. Physics 3.6
  6. 6. Computers and Electronics 3.6
Published pay band (10th to 90th)
$59,330 to $200,230
median $101,920 · ~3.4× spread
$102K
National median
↑ +3%
Growth 2024-2034
2,000
Annual openings
23,470
Estimated US jobs
Political Scientists
Highest-pay peer · $142K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education Bachelor's degree

Top Paying States for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

1. Massachusetts $108,210
2. Colorado $114,410
3. Maryland $110,510
4. Rhode Island $121,010
5. Mississippi $112,400
6. Alaska $107,410
7. Hawaii $106,270
8. California $106,500
9. Texas $145,220
10. Oklahoma $119,990

Other Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations titles

  1. 1. Biochemists and Biophysicists $127,410
  2. 2. Political Scientists $142,080
  3. 3. Psychologists, All Other $110,840
  4. 4. Astronomers $128,820
  5. 5. Nuclear Technicians $110,240
  6. 6. Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $100,580

The OEWS band for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers runs from $59,330 (10th) to $200,230 (90th), about 3.4× wide, with median $101,920. That spread, not the midpoint alone, is the distinctive published fact.

Employment Projections expect +3% change between 2024 and 2034 (about as fast as average vs baseline 3.1%). About 2,000 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Massachusetts at $108,210. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Political Scientists at $142,080. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers pay-rank #14 in Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

Among 48 detailed Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations with a published OEWS median, Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers is pay-rank #14, the upper third of that major group. The order is ROW_NUMBER on national median (title as tiebreak), not a worker-level percentile.

Other upper-third titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers is unusually wide, so the state map and peer comparison carry more signal than the median alone.

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 19-2042

Massachusetts · top state for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

$108K published median

Colorado · #2 state pay

$114K · behind Massachusetts

Political Scientists

Highest-pay peer vs Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers · $142K

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists

Lower-pay peer beside Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers · $101K

Compare Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers with another occupation →

Pay-band next reads

Entry-Level vs Experienced Pay

What percentile bands reveal

Using Salary Data for Negotiation

Leverage BLS percentiles

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations titles sit near Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers at the top of the pay table? ▼
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers is pay-rank #14 of 48 detailed Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations with an OEWS median, upper third. Nearest upper-third titles: Geographers ($102K), Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other ($101K), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($101K), Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists ($103K). Rank is ROW_NUMBER on national median.
What do geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers. Leading ones include: Plan or conduct geological, geochemical, or geophysical field studies or surveys, sample collection, or drilling and testing programs use…; Analyze and interpret geological data, using computer software; Investigate the composition, structure, or history of the Earth's crust through the collection, examination, measurement, or classificati…; Analyze and interpret geological, geochemical, or geophysical information from sources, such as survey data, well logs, bore holes, or ae…. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers? ▼
For SOC 19-2042, O*NET importance scores lead with Reading Comprehension (4.1), Speaking (4.0), Science (4.0), Critical Thinking (4.0). Knowledge areas emphasize Geography, Mathematics, English Language. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
How wide is the published pay band for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers? ▼
OEWS places the 10th percentile at $59,330 and the 90th at $200,230 for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (3.4× spread). The national median is $101,920. OEWS does not isolate experience, employer, or geography as the cause of that spread.
What employment change does BLS publish for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers is +3%. Projected annual openings: about 2,000. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: about as fast as average.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers? ▼
BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers? ▼
Massachusetts ($108,210), Colorado ($114,410), Maryland ($110,510) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 19-2042. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics