Geodesists survey using a series of 24 satellites that circle Earth.
Geodesists determine the shape and size of Earth by surveying its surface. They also use this science, which is closely associated with astronomy, for locating specific points on Earth's surface. Today, geodesists use GPS for finding points anywhere on Earth's surface within a single centimeter. To find specific points for their maps or charts, they use a transmitter from the ground that connects with at least three of the 24 satellites that circle the earth.
Average Annual Salaries
As of May of 2011, the average salary for geodesists nationwide was $69,000 per year, according to job tracking website SimplyHired. In Houston, Texas, the average annual salary was $70,000 per year.
Comparing eight different positions for six different geodesist employers, the SalaryDom website reported an average annual salary, based on the limited sampling, of $62,826. The lowest geodesist salary listed was The Atlantic Group, at $47,500 per year. Connoco Phillips had the highest annual pay of the six employers, at $85,284, while AOA Geomarine Operations reported an annual salary of $65,000 per year, and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory reported an annual geodesist salary of $61,887 per year.
Salary Ranges
The highest salary range reported by the salary tracking website GlassDoor for a geodesist was with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where the salary range was from $87,000 to $94,000 per year. The lowest salary range was with Atlantic Associates, at $46,000 to $50,000 per year. Earth Resources Technology,Inc. and Topcon Positioning Systems fell between these two figures, with ranges from $52,000 to $56,000 per year, and $67,000 to $71,000 per year, respectively.
Salary by the Hour Comparison
The website Salary Box compared hourly salaries of geodesists in California and Utah. California geodesists earned between $20.80 and $60.55 per hour, with an average hourly wage of $40.61 per hour. Utah geodesists earned beween $21.86 and $43.49 per hour, with an average hourly wage of $32.16 per hour. While Utah had a higher hourly wage for the low end of the range, California had a higher maximum hourly wage and a higher average hourly wage.
State Comparisons
When comparing six geodesist employers, SalaryDom website showed the state of Texas as having both the highest-paying employer and the third highest-paying employer. Alabama was home to the lowest-paying employer. The three states where geodesists were employed for salaries that fell between the extremes were, from low to high, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Ohio.
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