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The average Development Geologist earns around $110,970 annually, with hourly rates averaging $53. However, this figure can fluctuate based on several factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and the specific industry sector.
For instance, states like California and Texas often offer higher salaries due to the demand for geologists in energy and resource sectors. Those with specialized skills in software or environmental impact assessments may command higher wages.
As the job market evolves, the demand for Development Geologists remains steady, with opportunities in both public and private sectors. Tracking salary trends helps professionals gauge their earning potential and make informed career choices.
Development Geologists play a vital role in shaping our understanding of natural resources. For those considering this career path, staying informed about salary trends and industry demands is crucial for success.
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The highest-paying states for development geologists are Texas, Oklahoma, and California. The lowest average development geologist salary states are Nebraska, Georgia, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $109,854 | $52.81 |
| 2 | Maine | $105,011 | $50.49 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | $121,227 | $58.28 |
| 4 | Texas | $145,909 | $70.15 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $100,647 | $48.39 |
| 6 | Nevada | $102,179 | $49.12 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $98,910 | $47.55 |
| 8 | Idaho | $105,696 | $50.82 |
| 9 | California | $119,658 | $57.53 |
| 10 | Alaska | $105,046 | $50.50 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $97,216 | $46.74 |
| 12 | Alabama | $98,897 | $47.55 |
| 13 | South Carolina | $102,562 | $49.31 |
| 14 | Virginia | $110,678 | $53.21 |
| 15 | Montana | $95,585 | $45.95 |
| 16 | Ohio | $97,769 | $47.00 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $96,086 | $46.20 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $95,372 | $45.85 |
| 19 | Michigan | $93,741 | $45.07 |
| 20 | Washington | $106,180 | $51.05 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $92,083 | $44.27 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $96,377 | $46.34 |
| 23 | Colorado | $100,554 | $48.34 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $107,476 | $51.67 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $90,196 | $43.36 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $88,291 | $42.45 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $93,245 | $44.83 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $89,450 | $43.00 |
| 29 | Kansas | $82,361 | $39.60 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | $92,923 | $44.67 |
| 31 | Florida | $85,541 | $41.13 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $92,453 | $44.45 |
| 33 | Delaware | $91,243 | $43.87 |
| 34 | New Jersey | $89,603 | $43.08 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $89,218 | $42.89 |
| 36 | Vermont | $89,968 | $43.25 |
| 37 | New York | $89,644 | $43.10 |
| 38 | Maryland | $90,294 | $43.41 |
| 39 | Utah | $86,803 | $41.73 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $75,475 | $36.29 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $71,293 | $34.28 |
| 42 | Georgia | $73,747 | $35.46 |
| 43 | Iowa | $76,372 | $36.72 |
| 44 | Missouri | $78,420 | $37.70 |
| 45 | District of Columbia | $90,244 | $43.39 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $86,181 | $41.43 |
| 47 | Oregon | $85,689 | $41.20 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $66,405 | $31.93 |
| 49 | Indiana | $66,382 | $31.91 |
| 50 | Illinois | $79,891 | $38.41 |
| 51 | North Carolina | $70,434 | $33.86 |
The highest-paying cities for development geologists are The Woodlands, TX, Oklahoma City, OK, and Bakersfield, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Woodlands, TX | $148,603 | $71.44 |
| 2 | Oklahoma City, OK | $122,676 | $58.98 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $120,816 | $58.08 |
| 4 | Fairbanks, AK | $104,328 | $50.16 |
| 5 | Lafayette, LA | $96,608 | $46.45 |
A development geologist's salary ranges from $71,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $171,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $171,000 | $14,250 | $82 |
| 75th Percentile | $139,000 | $11,583 | $67 |
| Average | $110,970 | $9,248 | $53 |
| 25th Percentile | $88,000 | $7,333 | $42 |
| 10th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
The highest paying types of development geologists are research geologist, exploration geologist, and consulting geologist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geology Internship | $109,240 | $9,103 | $52.52 | 48,632 |
| Geophysicist | $105,067 | $8,756 | $50.51 | 287 |
| Geoscientist | $110,629 | $9,219 | $53.19 | 302 |
| Consulting Geologist | $112,160 | $9,347 | $53.92 | 5,484 |
| Geologist | $111,878 | $9,323 | $53.79 | 869 |
| Engineer And Geologist | $101,882 | $8,490 | $48.98 | 3,083 |
Top companies hiring development geologists now:
Development geologist salaries at Chevron and BP America Inc are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average development geologist salary at companies like Marathon Oil and Kosmos Energy are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevron | $140,405 | $67.50 |
| 2 | BP America Inc | $137,409 | $66.06 |
| 3 | Marathon Oil | $132,906 | $63.90 |
| 4 | Kosmos Energy | $111,510 | $53.61 |
| 5 | Sandridge Inc. | $110,924 | $53.33 |
| 6 | Broken Hill Proprietary | $110,924 | $53.33 |
| 7 | Newmont | $92,918 | $44.67 |
The average development geologist salary has risen by $10,803 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average development geologist earned $100,167 annually, but today, they earn $110,970 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for development geologists over the last decade.
Compare development geologist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare development geologist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $111,000 | $53.35 | +1.6% |
| 2024 | $109,000 | $52.47 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $108,000 | $51.95 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $107,000 | $51.22 | +0.1% |
| 2021 | $106,000 | $51.18 | +0.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civitas Resources, Inc. | Geologist II, Development | Denver, CO | 04/16/2025 | $130,000 |
| Anschutz Exploration Corporation | Senior Development Geologist | Denver, CO | 01/29/2025 | $140,000 |
| Charm Industrial | Development Geologist (Bf0028) | San Francisco, CA | 11/25/2024 | $145,000 |
| Occidental Petroleum | PRB Operations & Development Geologist | Denver, CO | 07/02/2024 | $116,800 |
| Civitas Resources, Inc. | Development Geologist, III | Denver, CO | 05/22/2024 | $155,000 |
| Ineos Phenol | Development Geologist/Geoscientist | Denver, CO | 05/13/2024 | $140,000 |
| Ineos Phenol | Development Geologist/Geoscientist | Denver, CO | 05/13/2024 | $140,000 |
| Civitas Resources, Inc. | Development Geologist, III | Denver, CO | 02/15/2024 | $155,000 |
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