Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the Earth's internal composition, atmospheres, and oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.Salary by State
| State Name | Employment | Annual Salary | Hourly Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 150 | $81,390 | $39.13 | |
| Alaska | 370 | $104,800 | $50.38 | |
| Arizona | 330 | $92,920 | $44.67 | |
| Arkansas | 100 | $73,420 | $35.30 | |
| California | 3,370 | $105,280 | $50.61 | |
| Colorado | 1,920 | $107,750 | $51.80 | |
| Connecticut | $83,480 | $40.14 | ||
| Delaware | 80 | $81,480 | $39.17 | |
| Florida | 680 | $89,830 | $43.19 | |
| Georgia | 330 | $65,230 | $31.36 | |
| Hawaii | 70 | $89,700 | $43.13 | |
| Idaho | 180 | $86,800 | $41.73 | |
| Illinois | 320 | $80,980 | $38.94 | |
| Indiana | 200 | $69,680 | $33.50 | |
| Kansas | 230 | $73,490 | $35.33 | |
| Kentucky | 330 | $59,790 | $28.74 | |
| Louisiana | 650 | $97,440 | $46.84 | |
| Maine | 50 | $70,190 | $33.74 | |
| Maryland | 440 | $91,300 | $43.89 | |
| Massachusetts | 550 | $106,850 | $51.37 | |
| Michigan | 420 | $71,810 | $34.53 | |
| Minnesota | 150 | $84,050 | $40.41 | |
| Mississippi | 360 | $90,180 | $43.36 | |
| Missouri | 230 | $76,460 | $36.76 | |
| Montana | 190 | $79,800 | $38.36 | |
| Nebraska | 80 | $80,380 | $38.64 | |
| Nevada | 670 | $86,440 | $41.56 | |
| New Hampshire | 70 | $82,970 | $39.89 | |
| New Jersey | 240 | $89,680 | $43.11 | |
| New Mexico | 170 | $77,050 | $37.04 | |
| New York | 660 | $83,280 | $40.04 | |
| North Carolina | 240 | $76,940 | $36.99 | |
| North Dakota | $96,270 | $46.28 | ||
| Ohio | 340 | $77,870 | $37.44 | |
| Oklahoma | 460 | $136,680 | $65.71 | |
| Oregon | 480 | $90,760 | $43.64 | |
| Pennsylvania | 1,090 | $79,150 | $38.06 | |
| Rhode Island | 40 | $92,470 | $44.46 | |
| South Carolina | 70 | $76,350 | $36.71 | |
| South Dakota | 80 | $74,420 | $35.78 | |
| Tennessee | 150 | $90,120 | $43.33 | |
| Texas | 4,960 | $144,950 | $69.69 | |
| Utah | 260 | $92,320 | $44.38 | |
| Vermont | 30 | $82,930 | $39.87 | |
| Virginia | 440 | $94,140 | $45.26 | |
| Washington | 690 | $97,310 | $46.78 | |
| West Virginia | 90 | $65,160 | $31.33 | |
| Wisconsin | 130 | $59,970 | $28.83 | |
| Wyoming | 210 | $81,410 | $39.14 |
Education
The programs listed below are typically the education paths that can land you this kind of job.
A program that focuses on the study of biology, chemistry, geology and physics applied to marine, estuarine and coastal environments. Includes instruction in marine biogeochemistry, atmosphere and ocean dynamics, coastal ecology, coastal ocean processes, microbial ecology, marine ecosystem modeling, and polar microbiology.
A program that focuses on the interaction of the Earth's oceanographic, atmospheric, and terrestrial systems. Includes instruction in biogeochemistry, climate dynamics, geographical information science (GIS), geophysics, hydrology, landscape ecology, meteorology, and satellite remote sensing analysis.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the environmental implications of geological processes and human activities on Earth. Includes instruction in environmental/natural resource management, geographic information systems (GIS), geology, hydrology, regulatory agency compliance, hazard identification and mitigation, environmental law, environmental policy, and sustainability studies.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of how living things interact with geological systems. Includes instruction in evolution of Earth systems, geochemistry, geology, geomicrobiology, marine chemistry, paleobiology, paleoecology, paleontology, and petrology.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the earth; the forces acting upon it; and the behavior of the solids, liquids and gases comprising it. Includes instruction in historical geology, geomorphology, and sedimentology, the chemistry of rocks and soils, stratigraphy, mineralogy, petrology, geostatistics, volcanology, glaciology, geophysical principles, and applications to research and industrial problems.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the chemical properties and behavior of the silicates and other substances forming, and formed by geomorphological processes of the earth and other planets. Includes instruction in chemical thermodynamics, equilibrium in silicate systems, atomic bonding, isotopic fractionation, geochemical modeling, specimen analysis, and studies of specific organic and inorganic substances.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the physics of solids and its application to the study of the earth and other planets. Includes instruction in gravimetric, seismology, earthquake forecasting, magnetrometry, electrical properties of solid bodies, plate tectonics, active deformation, thermodynamics, remote sensing, geodesy, and laboratory simulations of geological processes.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of extinct life forms and associated fossil remains, and the reconstruction and analysis of ancient life forms, ecosystems, and geologic processes. Includes instruction in sedimentation and fossilization processes, fossil chemistry, evolutionary biology, paleoecology, paleoclimatology, trace fossils, micropaleontology, invertebrate paleontology, vertebrate paleontology, paleobotany, field research methods, and laboratory research and conservation methods.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the chemical components, mechanisms, structure, and movement of ocean waters and their interaction with terrestrial and atmospheric phenomena. Includes instruction in material inputs and outputs, chemical and biochemical transformations in marine systems, equilibria studies, inorganic and organic ocean chemistry, oceanographic processes, sediment transport, zone processes, circulation, mixing, tidal movements, wave properties, and seawater properties.
Any instructional program in geological and related sciences not listed above.
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$103,550 per yearNational average salaryModerateJob growth rate
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Bachelor's degreeTypical education requirement
Educational Attainment
The following chart shows the highest education level completed by those working as geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers.
- Less than high school 0%
- High school graduate 0%
- College dropout 0%
- Associate’s degree 0%
- Bachelor’s degree 45%
- Master’s degree 41%
- Doctorate degree 14%
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