19 Series · SOC 19-2042
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $101,920
- Median / year
- $200,230
- Top 10% earn
- +3.2%
- Growth '23–'33
- 23,470
- US workers
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers earn a median of $101,920 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $101,920, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $59,330 (10th percentile) to $200,230 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 23,470 US workers. Texas pays the most ($145,220), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers earn a median of $101,920, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 84% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #14 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3.2% by 2033.
- $101,920
- Median annual wage
- Top 16%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #14 of 48
- in Life, Physical, and Social Science
- 3.4×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Texas at $145,220. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (SOC 19-2042) pays a national median of $101,920 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $59,330 at the 10th percentile to $200,230 at the 90th, with a mean of $116,150 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 23,470 Americans work in this occupation across 50 reporting states and 119 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. 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. Texas pays the highest state median at $145,220, which is +42% above the national figure. The top metro is Midland, TX at $219,140 - 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
$101,920
per year
Median Hourly
$49.00/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$116,150
average
Employment
23,470
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$101,920 Top 16% higher than 84% 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 Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 19-series occupations with growth data, Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers sits on the slower-growing side at +3.2% growth and $101,920 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+3.2%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
2,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
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 Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Plan or conduct geological, geochemical, or geophysical field studies or surveys, sample collection, or drilling and testing programs used to collect data for research or application.
- ▸ 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 classification of soils, minerals, rocks, or fossil remains.
- ▸ Analyze and interpret geological, geochemical, or geophysical information from sources, such as survey data, well logs, bore holes, or aerial photos.
- ▸ Identify risks for natural disasters, such as mudslides, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions.
- ▸ Assess ground or surface water movement to provide advice on issues, such as waste management, route and site selection, or the restoration of contaminated sites.
- ▸ Prepare geological maps, cross-sectional diagrams, charts, or reports concerning mineral extraction, land use, or resource management, using results of fieldwork or laboratory research.
- ▸ Communicate geological findings by writing research papers, participating in conferences, or teaching geological science at universities.
- ▸ Inspect construction projects to analyze engineering problems, using test equipment or drilling machinery.
- ▸ Provide advice on the safe siting of new nuclear reactor projects or methods of nuclear waste management.
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
$59,330
25th Percentile
$75,110
Median
$101,920
75th Percentile
$139,380
90th Percentile
$200,230
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 50 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | $145,220 | +42% above national |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $121,010 | +19% above national |
| 3 | Oklahoma | $119,990 | +18% above national |
| 4 | Colorado | $114,410 | +12% above national |
| 5 | Mississippi | $112,400 | +10% above national |
| 6 | Maryland | $110,510 | +8% above national |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $108,210 | +6% above national |
| 8 | Alaska | $107,410 | +5% above national |
| 9 | California | $106,500 | +4% above national |
| 10 | Hawaii | $106,270 | +4% above national |
| 11 | Washington | $105,020 | +3% above national |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $101,150 | 1% below national |
| 13 | Nevada | $99,890 | 2% below national |
| 14 | Oregon | $98,110 | 4% below national |
| 15 | Illinois | $96,950 | 5% below national |
| 16 | North Carolina | $95,260 | 7% below national |
| 17 | Florida | $95,140 | 7% below national |
| 18 | Delaware | $93,640 | 8% below national |
| 19 | Louisiana | $91,560 | 10% below national |
| 20 | Idaho | $91,170 | 11% below national |
| 21 | Utah | $89,990 | 12% below national |
| 22 | Alabama | $88,610 | 13% below national |
| 23 | New Mexico | $88,530 | 13% below national |
| 24 | New Jersey | $88,500 | 13% below national |
| 25 | Virginia | $88,390 | 13% below national |
| 26 | Vermont | $87,070 | 15% below national |
| 27 | Maine | $86,840 | 15% below national |
| 28 | New York | $86,410 | 15% below national |
| 29 | South Carolina | $86,070 | 16% below national |
| 30 | Nebraska | $85,550 | 16% below national |
| 31 | Arizona | $85,190 | 16% below national |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $84,180 | 17% below national |
| 33 | North Dakota | $84,070 | 18% below national |
| 34 | Missouri | $83,390 | 18% below national |
| 35 | Ohio | $81,220 | 20% below national |
| 36 | Michigan | $80,990 | 21% below national |
| 37 | Minnesota | $80,540 | 21% below national |
| 38 | Kansas | $80,080 | 21% below national |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $78,610 | 23% below national |
| 40 | Tennessee | $77,870 | 24% below national |
| 41 | Kentucky | $77,510 | 24% below national |
| 42 | West Virginia | $76,060 | 25% below national |
| 43 | Montana | $75,520 | 26% below national |
| 44 | Wyoming | $74,910 | 27% below national |
| 45 | Iowa | $74,460 | 27% below national |
| 46 | Georgia | $73,920 | 27% below national |
| 47 | South Dakota | $71,150 | 30% below national |
| 48 | Indiana | $68,240 | 33% below national |
| 49 | Arkansas | $67,880 | 33% below national |
| 50 | Connecticut | $61,810 | 39% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 119 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midland, TX | $219,140 | +115% above national |
| 2 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $174,490 | +71% above national |
| 3 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $154,390 | +51% above national |
| 4 | Lubbock, TX | $140,660 | +38% above national |
| 5 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $136,120 | +34% above national |
| 6 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $136,120 | +34% above national |
| 7 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $132,790 | +30% above national |
| 8 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $132,780 | +30% above national |
| 9 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $132,620 | +30% above national |
| 10 | Odessa, TX | $129,730 | +27% above national |
| 11 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $125,570 | +23% above national |
| 12 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $124,520 | +22% above national |
| 13 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $122,310 | +20% above national |
| 14 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $122,100 | +20% above national |
| 15 | Grand Junction, CO | $121,820 | +20% above national |
| 16 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $120,480 | +18% above national |
| 17 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $120,240 | +18% above national |
| 18 | Oklahoma City, OK | $119,990 | +18% above national |
| 19 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $119,950 | +18% above national |
| 20 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $118,080 | +16% above national |
| 21 | Fresno, CA | $117,420 | +15% above national |
| 22 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $117,420 | +15% above national |
| 23 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $114,030 | +12% above national |
| 24 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $111,830 | +10% above national |
| 25 | Redding, CA | $111,830 | +10% above national |
| 26 | Anchorage, AK | $111,290 | +9% above national |
| 27 | Boulder, CO | $107,860 | +6% above national |
| 28 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $107,800 | +6% above national |
| 29 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $106,260 | +4% above national |
| 30 | Longview, TX | $105,450 | +3% above national |
| 31 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $105,020 | +3% above national |
| 32 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $104,760 | +3% above national |
| 33 | Wilmington, NC | $102,990 | +1% above national |
| 34 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $102,730 | +1% above national |
| 35 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $102,440 | +1% above national |
| 36 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $101,750 | same as national |
| 37 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $101,360 | 1% below national |
| 38 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $100,250 | 2% below national |
| 39 | Wichita, KS | $100,160 | 2% below national |
| 40 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $99,560 | 2% below national |
| 41 | Billings, MT | $99,270 | 3% below national |
| 42 | Asheville, NC | $99,160 | 3% below national |
| 43 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $97,770 | 4% below national |
| 44 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $97,610 | 4% below national |
| 45 | Jacksonville, FL | $97,470 | 4% below national |
| 46 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $97,330 | 5% below national |
| 47 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $95,340 | 6% below national |
| 48 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $95,140 | 7% below national |
| 49 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $94,850 | 7% below national |
| 50 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $94,660 | 7% below national |
| 51 | Reno, NV | $94,610 | 7% below national |
| 52 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $94,300 | 7% below national |
| 53 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $93,790 | 8% below national |
| 54 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $93,030 | 9% below national |
| 55 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $92,930 | 9% below national |
| 56 | Omaha, NE-IA | $92,340 | 9% below national |
| 57 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $92,150 | 10% below national |
| 58 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $91,490 | 10% below national |
| 59 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $91,100 | 11% below national |
| 60 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $90,810 | 11% below national |
| 61 | Tucson, AZ | $90,700 | 11% below national |
| 62 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $90,270 | 11% below national |
| 63 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $90,060 | 12% below national |
| 64 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $89,770 | 12% below national |
| 65 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $88,990 | 13% below national |
| 66 | Boise City, ID | $88,640 | 13% below national |
| 67 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $88,610 | 13% below national |
| 68 | Columbia, SC | $88,290 | 13% below national |
| 69 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $87,220 | 14% below national |
| 70 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $86,870 | 15% below national |
| 71 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $86,650 | 15% below national |
| 72 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $86,420 | 15% below national |
| 73 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $86,260 | 15% below national |
| 74 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $84,910 | 17% below national |
| 75 | Madison, WI | $84,520 | 17% below national |
| 76 | Corvallis, OR | $84,190 | 17% below national |
| 77 | Columbus, OH | $84,140 | 17% below national |
| 78 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $83,970 | 18% below national |
| 79 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $83,740 | 18% below national |
| 80 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $83,100 | 18% below national |
| 81 | Akron, OH | $83,010 | 19% below national |
| 82 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $82,220 | 19% below national |
| 83 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $81,750 | 20% below national |
| 84 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $81,710 | 20% below national |
| 85 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $81,630 | 20% below national |
| 86 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $81,350 | 20% below national |
| 87 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $81,330 | 20% below national |
| 88 | Colorado Springs, CO | $80,660 | 21% below national |
| 89 | Jackson, MS | $80,660 | 21% below national |
| 90 | Richmond, VA | $80,490 | 21% below national |
| 91 | Albuquerque, NM | $79,820 | 22% below national |
| 92 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $79,780 | 22% below national |
| 93 | Lafayette, LA | $79,240 | 22% below national |
| 94 | Springfield, IL | $79,190 | 22% below national |
| 95 | Syracuse, NY | $78,680 | 23% below national |
| 96 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $78,630 | 23% below national |
| 97 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $78,570 | 23% below national |
| 98 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $78,500 | 23% below national |
| 99 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $78,290 | 23% below national |
| 100 | Cleveland, OH | $77,890 | 24% below national |
| 101 | Knoxville, TN | $77,870 | 24% below national |
| 102 | Baton Rouge, LA | $76,640 | 25% below national |
| 103 | Pittsburgh, PA | $76,410 | 25% below national |
| 104 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $76,060 | 25% below national |
| 105 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $75,520 | 26% below national |
| 106 | Duluth, MN-WI | $75,450 | 26% below national |
| 107 | Cheyenne, WY | $74,150 | 27% below national |
| 108 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $73,830 | 28% below national |
| 109 | Rochester, NY | $73,320 | 28% below national |
| 110 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $71,500 | 30% below national |
| 111 | Tallahassee, FL | $70,200 | 31% below national |
| 112 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $70,180 | 31% below national |
| 113 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $69,230 | 32% below national |
| 114 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $67,700 | 34% below national |
| 115 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $65,000 | 36% below national |
| 116 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $63,270 | 38% below national |
| 117 | Tyler, TX | $62,840 | 38% below national |
| 118 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $59,390 | 42% below national |
| 119 | Casper, WY | $55,130 | 46% 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
How much does a Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers make? ▼
What state pays Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers? ▼
How dangerous is being a Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers? ▼
Is Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers a good career? ▼
How does Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers pay vary by state? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $139,380/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: Texas leads at $145,220/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.