Geologists earn varying incomes depending on their field.
A career in the field of geology can mean anything from working on a field site, doing research or teaching at the college level. Most geologists need a master's degree, and in some cases a Ph.D., to obtain a job. Job opportunities are expected to be excellent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and salary can vary greatly depending on industry and location.
Average Salary
Geologists are classified as a type of geoscientist that focus on the "composition, structure and history of the earth's crust," according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of May 2009, the mean annual wage in the United States for this occupation was $92,710, with the bottom ten percent earning $43,140 and the top ten percent earning $161,260.
Industry
One of the most popular industries for geologists is that of oil and gas extraction, which brings in an annual mean salary of $136,270. The industry of architectural, engineering and related services is equally as popular in terms of levels of employment, but the mean annual wage is much lower at $76,220. The state government offers some of the lowest wages for geologists at $62,550, while the industry of petroleum and petroleum products merchant wholesalers offers the highest at $139,740.
Location
In the United States, the area with the highest concentration of geologists and the second-highest average salary is the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas area at 5,240 workers and an average mean wage of $138,370. The highest paying city overall for geologists is Midland, Texas at $142,250. Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska also have a high number of employed geologists and offer mean annual wages of $115,220 and $72,000, respectively.
Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of 18 percent between 2008 and 2018 for geologists and all geoscientists, which is faster than the average for all jobs in the United States. Specifically, many geologists are being hired increasingly more as consultants for both the government and private corporations as they deal with environmental management plans. At times when the prices of oil and gas are low, there may be an increase in lay offs for geologists as so many work in that industry. Job outlook is considered best for those geologists with at least a master's degree in the field.
Tags: Bureau Labor, Bureau Labor Statistics, Labor Statistics, mean annual, United States
