Geological technicians work in laboratories and in the field assisting geological scientists and engineers. They use various tools to analyze land samples for the presence of minerals, metals, gas and petroleum. Geological technicians working strictly in the oil industry are called petroleum technicians. These professionals also develop reports on various characteristics of coal mines and oil and gas wells or search for new exploration fields. Although geological technicians are usually trained on the job, they are often required to have technical degrees. The average salary depends on the industry and location.
Average Salary
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that geological technicians in 2009 earned a mean annual wage of $58,400, or $28.08 an hour. The median salary was reported at $53,240 per year, or $25.60 an hour. Estimated annual wages ranged from $28,480 to $96,110, or $13.69 to $46.21 per hour.
Largest Industries
The oil and gas exploration industry was the biggest employer of geological technicians in 2009 and paid an annual mean wage of $63,600, according to the bureau. Scientific and research development companies and firms offering support activities for mining paid anywhere from $51,060 to $54,380. Petroleum and coal products manufacturers had the highest salary for technicians out of the top-five-largest employers -- $77,360 per year on average. Architectural and engineering firms paid an annual mean wage of $43,570 per year.
Highest-Paying Industries
The bureau reports that firms providing employment services paid the top average salary to geological technicians in 2009 at $84,650 a year. Wholesalers of petroleum and petroleum products were second-highest in terms of salary, $79,470. Manufacturers of petroleum and coal, in addition to being one the largest-employing industries, were also on the list of highest-paying employers, with an annual mean wage of $77,360. Electric power generation and distribution companies and manufacturers of basic chemicals had average salaries ranging from $73,070 to $74,100 per year.
Locations
In 2009, Alaska had the highest concentration of geological technicians per 1,000 workers and paid the second-highest average salary among states at $64,250 per year, according to the bureau. California was the top-paying state at $81,800 a year. Colorado, Texas and Virginia were the other top-five-paying states, with annual mean wages ranging from $60,410 to $61,180. Anchorage, Alaska, paid the top average salary to the technicians, $87,700 a year, followed by Bakersfield, California, with a $77,340 average. Another city in California -- Los Angeles -- also paid one of the highest wages, $68,550 a year. Houston, Texas, had an annual mean wage of $72,500.
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