Geologists can expect faster than average job growth over the next several years.
Scientists have been fascinated with our planet and its physical qualities for generations. Geologists are the scientific specialists that focus on the study of Earth and its composition and history. They commonly study rocks to discover when and how they were formed by using physics and chemistry. They may also make discoveries about the life of the earth by studying plants and animals, soil, mountains and rivers. Geologists in the USA can work in many different scientific scenarios, and salaries can vary widely.
Average Wages in the United States
Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May of 2010, geologists earned a nationwide average salary of $93,380 a year. This figure represents an estimated 30,830 geoscientists, most of whom fell into the middle 50 percent of wages and made between $57,820 and $115,460 a year. Some geologists reported annual salaries of less than $43,820 a year, comprising of the bottom 10th percentile. However, those at the top of their field made their way into the top 10th percentile, earning more than $160,910 annually.
Around the Country
The BLS data demonstrate how significantly location influenced salaries for geologists. In fact, Colorado was the only state with a figure similar to the national average, $96,610 a year. Geologists in Pennsylvania reported an annual mean wage of just $67,860, and those in California made $84,480 a year on average. On the other side of the pay scale, geologists made a little over $100,000 a year in Washington, D.C., Massachusetts and Alaska, and those in Texas earned $125,070 a year on average. However, Oklahoma was the highest paying state in the U.S. in 2010, boasting an annual mean wage of $129,870.
Employer Pay
Geologists saw employment opportunities in many industries in 2010, but the largest number of them worked in architectural and engineering service firms for an annual mean wage of $80,460. Lower paying positions were found with state government, averaging $62,880 a year, or with management, scientific and technical consulting firms, averaging $73,990 annually. However, geologists working for petroleum and coal products manufacturers earned $118,910 a year on average, and financial investment companies paid $125,570 a year. The second largest employers of geoscientists, oil and gas extraction companies, provided an annual mean wage of $132,210, the highest of any industry.
Qualifications
Most geologists and geoscientists must posses a master's degree, but positions primarily based in research or post secondary education will demand a Ph.D. During formal training, geologists commonly study multiple areas of geoscience, including petrology, mineralogy and structural geology, as well as physics, chemistry and biology. Geologists also often need knowledge and skills related to modern computer and GPS equipment. Geologists who provide services that directly affect the public are required to obtain a license in many states.
