Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for geological engineers in the United States
Are geological engineer jobs in demand?
Geological engineer job and salary trends over time
Geological engineer jobs over time
Geological engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 510 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 434 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 434 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 400 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 425 | 0.00% |
Average geological engineer salary over time
Geological engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $81,506 | $39.19 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | $79,212 | $38.08 | --1.2% |
| 2023 | $80,159 | $38.54 | --2.1% |
| 2022 | $81,888 | $39.37 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | $81,437 | $39.15 | --0.3% |
Geological engineer jobs by state
Most common states for geological engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 197 | 28% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 614 | 7% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 415 | 7% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 71 | 7% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 386 | 6% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 312 | 6% |
| 7 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 401 | 5% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 207 | 5% |
| 9 | Alaska | 739,795 | 36 | 5% |
| 10 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,737 | 4% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 113 | 4% |
| 12 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 530 | 3% |
| 13 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 268 | 3% |
| 14 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 259 | 3% |
| 15 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 214 | 3% |
| 16 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 63 | 3% |
| 17 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 53 | 3% |
| 18 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 53 | 3% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 27 | 3% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 19 | 3% |
Most common cities for geological engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfort | 1 | 4% | $70,687 |
| 2 | Grand Junction | 1 | 2% | $89,658 |
| 3 | Lansing | 1 | 1% | $103,897 |
| 4 | Tallahassee | 1 | 1% | $84,125 |
| 5 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $74,012 |
| 6 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $88,260 |
| 7 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $83,821 |
| 8 | Saint Louis | 1 | 0% | $73,799 |
| 9 | San Francisco | 1 | 0% | $95,473 |
Geological Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of geological engineer experts
Michigan Technological University
What general advice would you give to a Geological Engineer?
Dr. John Gierke: The geological engineering profession is a very small discipline. In the U.S., there exist only 13 accredited programs. Despite the small number of programs, enrollments in geological engineering are also few compared to more-widely known engineering disciplines. Geological engineers provide unique knowledge and skills to earth resource projects, so the demand for professionals typically exceeds the supply. Therefore, from a professional outlook perspective, there is always a good time to graduate as a geological engineer as long as graduates are flexible in terms of the industry they prefer. During downturns in petroleum or particular minerals/metals, opportunities in those industries can experience pauses, but typically there are always opportunities in construction, water resources development, slope stability, and aggregate resource development.
What Geological Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. John Gierke: Interests in geology and earth processes and working outside are the common elements that all geological engineers admit are the 'draws' to the discipline. Many of our students also enjoy being a student in a small department where everyone knows each other, including the faculty. The flip side of being a small discipline is a lack of discipline-specific professional attributes, such as professional licensure. There is no geological engineering discipline-specific professional engineering exam, graduates and professionals must take the exam in a cognate discipline, like civil engineering, or in general engineering. The flip side of 'getting' to be outdoors is the travel and work in remote, sometimes harsh, environments. Lastly, the cyclic nature of commodity industries, like metals, minerals, and petroleum, sometimes results in abrupt career changes during downturns. Despite the fluctuations, however, the geological engineering discipline is broad and professionals are well prepared to apply their knowledge and skills honed in one subdiscipline to another.
What will help Geological Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. John Gierke: Geological engineers primarily work on earth resources (petroleum, minerals, groundwater) development projects, including exploration. Geological engineers also work in construction projects dealing with earth materials, such as dams, foundations, and the stability of slopes. Entry-level geological engineers primarily are involved in field work, interpreting rock and soil samples, collecting samples, and geotechnical testing, among other field-testing activities. With time they evolve into positions that use data from the field in designing systems and making decisions regarding resource development and earthen construction.