19 Series · SOC 19-4043
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $53,350
- Median / year
- $99,560
- Top 10% earn
- +1.5%
- Growth '23–'33
- 6,980
- US workers
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians earn a median of $53,350 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $53,350, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $35,770 (10th percentile) to $99,560 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 6,980 US workers. Maryland pays the most ($102,090), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians earn a median of $53,350, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 39% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #46 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 1.5% by 2033.
- $53,350
- Median annual wage
- Top 61%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #46 of 48
- in Life, Physical, and Social Science
- 2.8×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Maryland at $102,090. Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians (SOC 19-4043) pays a national median of $53,350 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $35,770 at the 10th percentile to $99,560 at the 90th, with a mean of $61,870 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 6,980 Americans work in this occupation across 35 reporting states and 43 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +1.5% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,300 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Associate's degree and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.7 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Maryland pays the highest state median at $102,090, which is +91% above the national figure. The top metro is Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area at $83,720 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$53,350
per year
Median Hourly
$25.65/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$61,870
average
Employment
6,980
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$53,350 Bottom 39% higher than 39% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 19-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians sits on the slower-growing side at +1.5% growth and $53,350 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+1.5%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
1,300
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Associate's degree
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
0.7/100
Danger Index
3.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Test and analyze samples to determine their content and characteristics, using laboratory apparatus or testing equipment.
- ▸ Collect or prepare solid or fluid samples for analysis.
- ▸ Compile, log, or record testing or operational data for review and further analysis.
- ▸ Prepare notes, sketches, geological maps, or cross-sections.
- ▸ Operate or adjust equipment or apparatus used to obtain geological data.
- ▸ Plan and direct activities of workers who operate equipment to collect data.
- ▸ Participate in geological, geophysical, geochemical, hydrographic, or oceanographic surveys, prospecting field trips, exploratory drilling, well logging, or underground mine survey programs.
- ▸ Set up or direct set-up of instruments used to collect geological data.
- ▸ Record readings in order to compile data used in prospecting for oil or gas.
- ▸ Prepare or review professional, technical, or other reports regarding sampling, testing, or recommendations of data analysis.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$35,770
25th Percentile
$44,850
Median
$53,350
75th Percentile
$72,110
90th Percentile
$99,560
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 35 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $102,090 | +91% above national |
| 2 | Indiana | $79,290 | +49% above national |
| 3 | Alaska | $76,090 | +43% above national |
| 4 | Nevada | $73,700 | +38% above national |
| 5 | California | $69,410 | +30% above national |
| 6 | West Virginia | $69,350 | +30% above national |
| 7 | Washington | $63,910 | +20% above national |
| 8 | Nebraska | $63,160 | +18% above national |
| 9 | Wyoming | $63,070 | +18% above national |
| 10 | Tennessee | $63,050 | +18% above national |
| 11 | Colorado | $61,780 | +16% above national |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $61,630 | +16% above national |
| 13 | New Mexico | $59,520 | +12% above national |
| 14 | Virginia | $59,290 | +11% above national |
| 15 | Louisiana | $59,120 | +11% above national |
| 16 | Michigan | $58,860 | +10% above national |
| 17 | New York | $57,150 | +7% above national |
| 18 | Montana | $55,520 | +4% above national |
| 19 | Oregon | $55,090 | +3% above national |
| 20 | Illinois | $53,280 | same as national |
| 21 | South Carolina | $53,160 | same as national |
| 22 | Kansas | $52,430 | 2% below national |
| 23 | North Dakota | $51,240 | 4% below national |
| 24 | Arizona | $50,160 | 6% below national |
| 25 | Florida | $49,980 | 6% below national |
| 26 | Kentucky | $49,840 | 7% below national |
| 27 | Ohio | $48,890 | 8% below national |
| 28 | North Carolina | $48,090 | 10% below national |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $47,380 | 11% below national |
| 30 | Arkansas | $47,250 | 11% below national |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $46,890 | 12% below national |
| 32 | Texas | $46,840 | 12% below national |
| 33 | Idaho | $46,680 | 13% below national |
| 34 | Alabama | $35,670 | 33% below national |
| 35 | Georgia | $34,710 | 35% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 43 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $83,720 | +57% above national |
| 2 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $82,350 | +54% above national |
| 3 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $72,660 | +36% above national |
| 4 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $70,280 | +32% above national |
| 5 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $69,410 | +30% above national |
| 6 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $64,420 | +21% above national |
| 7 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $64,310 | +21% above national |
| 8 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $62,520 | +17% above national |
| 9 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $60,910 | +14% above national |
| 10 | Boise City, ID | $60,800 | +14% above national |
| 11 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $60,390 | +13% above national |
| 12 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $59,630 | +12% above national |
| 13 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $59,600 | +12% above national |
| 14 | Reno, NV | $58,920 | +10% above national |
| 15 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $57,480 | +8% above national |
| 16 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $57,260 | +7% above national |
| 17 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $57,150 | +7% above national |
| 18 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $56,780 | +6% above national |
| 19 | Tulsa, OK | $53,590 | same as national |
| 20 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $53,110 | same as national |
| 21 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $52,990 | 1% below national |
| 22 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $52,130 | 2% below national |
| 23 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $51,460 | 4% below national |
| 24 | Omaha, NE-IA | $51,450 | 4% below national |
| 25 | Fargo, ND-MN | $51,240 | 4% below national |
| 26 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $51,080 | 4% below national |
| 27 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $50,160 | 6% below national |
| 28 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $49,740 | 7% below national |
| 29 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $49,280 | 8% below national |
| 30 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $48,500 | 9% below national |
| 31 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $47,920 | 10% below national |
| 32 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $47,710 | 11% below national |
| 33 | Oklahoma City, OK | $47,510 | 11% below national |
| 34 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $46,410 | 13% below national |
| 35 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $45,560 | 15% below national |
| 36 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $45,560 | 15% below national |
| 37 | Pittsburgh, PA | $43,440 | 19% below national |
| 38 | Waco, TX | $41,310 | 23% below national |
| 39 | Tyler, TX | $40,130 | 25% below national |
| 40 | Corpus Christi, TX | $37,050 | 31% below national |
| 41 | Mobile, AL | $34,940 | 35% below national |
| 42 | Odessa, TX | $31,950 | 40% below national |
| 43 | Midland, TX | $29,790 | 44% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 19 (life physical and social science) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $72,110/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Maryland leads at $102,090/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.