Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers: salary, outlook & degrees
Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the Earth's internal composition, atmospheres, and oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.
Middle half $75,110–$139,380. 23,470 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 1,800 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Considerable preparation (usually a bachelor's).
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Education workers say the job requires
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers (“required level of education”); small samples, so treat shares as approximate.
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| Texas | $145,220 |
| Rhode Island | $121,010 |
| Oklahoma | $119,990 |
| Colorado | $114,410 |
| Mississippi | $112,400 |
| Maryland | $110,510 |
| Massachusetts | $108,210 |
| Alaska | $107,410 |
| California | $106,500 |
| Hawaii | $106,270 |
| Washington | $105,020 |
| New Hampshire | $101,150 |
| Nevada | $99,890 |
| Oregon | $98,110 |
| Illinois | $96,950 |
| North Carolina | $95,260 |
| Florida | $95,140 |
| Delaware | $93,640 |
| Louisiana | $91,560 |
| Idaho | $91,170 |
| Utah | $89,990 |
| Alabama | $88,610 |
| New Mexico | $88,530 |
| New Jersey | $88,500 |
| Virginia | $88,390 |
| Vermont | $87,070 |
| Maine | $86,840 |
| New York | $86,410 |
| South Carolina | $86,070 |
| Nebraska | $85,550 |
| Arizona | $85,190 |
| Pennsylvania | $84,180 |
| North Dakota | $84,070 |
| Missouri | $83,390 |
| Ohio | $81,220 |
| Michigan | $80,990 |
| Minnesota | $80,540 |
| Kansas | $80,080 |
| Wisconsin | $78,610 |
| Tennessee | $77,870 |
| Kentucky | $77,510 |
| West Virginia | $76,060 |
| Montana | $75,520 |
| Wyoming | $74,910 |
| Iowa | $74,460 |
| Georgia | $73,920 |
| South Dakota | $71,150 |
| Indiana | $68,240 |
| Arkansas | $67,880 |
| Connecticut | $61,810 |
Largest metro areas for this job
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands TX$174,490
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial CO$120,480
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim CA$94,660
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington TX$132,780
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue WA$107,800
- Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos TX$92,930
- Oklahoma City OK$119,990
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom CA$119,950
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington PA-NJ-DE-MD$94,850
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont CA$122,310
- New York-Newark-Jersey City NY-NJ$90,810
- Midland TX$219,140
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Science
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge used
- Geography
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Physics
- English Language
Work styles
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Attention to Detail
- Innovation
- Dependability
- Achievement Orientation
People in this job tend to have Investigative (analytical), Realistic (hands-on), Conventional (organizing) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers: questions
How much do geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers make?
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers earn a U.S. median $101,920 a year; the middle half earn $75,110 to $139,380 (BLS, May 2025).
Is geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 5.1% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,800 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be a geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographer?
BLS lists the typical entry education as bachelor's degree. In O*NET's survey, 100% of workers say a bachelor's or higher is required.
How much do geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $95,140 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $101,920 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 19-2042. Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all careers
Cite this: “Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/geoscientists-except-hydrologists-and-geographers.