Planetary geologists work for the government and private companies.
A planetary geologist -- also known as an astro-geologist or an exo-geologist -- is concerned with the geological processes that occur on celestial bodies such as planets, moons, asteroids and comets. It is closely linked with Earth-based geology and practitioners in the field use terrestrial techniques and knowledge to study the solar system and apply knowledge gathered from their planetary investigations to geological study on Earth. A planetary geologist may be involved in determining the structure of planets, investigating volcanism and the geological impact ice and water may have had. Her salary range reflects the specific knowledge required but can vary depending on her employment situation.
Average Salary
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics collated wage information from some 31,860 individuals working in the geosciences -- including planetary geologists -- in May 2009. In synthesizing the data, it concluded that the average yearly salary was $92,710. While the top 10 percent of earners in the field received an average of $161,260, their counterparts in the bottom 10 percent earned an average of $43,140. The median 50 percent of practitioners received a mean salary of $81,220.
Salary by Employer
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' survey of May 2009 also broke down geoscientist salaries by the sector of industry in which they worked. For a planetary geologist employed by the federal government, the compensation level was $94,560 per year. An individual contracted to a company specializing in oil and gas extraction could expect in the region of $136,270. Positions at state government levels brought average rewards of $62,550, while geologists who worked for consulting firms, hiring out their expertise to companies, could earn an average of $73,920.
Salary by Geography
A planetary geologist's terrestrial location -- the place from which she conducts her investigations -- is also a factor in determining her salary level. The Bureau of Labor Statistics highlights Texas and the District of Columbia as lucrative places to be based, paying mean annual salaries to geoscientists of $127,250 and $107,160, respectively. Colorado and Oklahoma are listed as offering similar levels of pay -- $99,590 and $96,290 -- while Alaska offers slightly more -- $104,410. The BLS lists Midland, Texas, as the single metropolitan location with the highest wages -- $142,250 as of May 2009.
Prospects
While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the employment market across all occupations in the country will grow by between 7 and 13 percent through 2018, it places the expected growth rate for the geoscientific field, which includes planetary geologists, at 18 percent over the same time. An aging population will mean the rate of retirement in the field will increase and these vacant positions will need to be filled. Therefore, qualified professionals should be able to secure excellent salaries in return for their expertise.
Tags: Bureau Labor, Bureau Labor Statistics, Labor Statistics, planetary geologist, planetary geologists, their expertise
