Geologist demographics and statistics in the US
Geologist demographics research summary. Zippia estimates geologist demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our geologist estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about geologists after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 14,940 geologists currently employed in the United States.
- 21.3% of all geologists are women, while 78.7% are men.
- The average geologist age is 44 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of geologists is White (81.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (6.7%), Asian (4.9%) and Unknown (4.8%).
- In 2022, women earned 91% of what men earned.
- 4% of all geologists are LGBT.
- Geologists are 54% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Geologist demographics by:
Geologist gender statistics
21.3% of geologists are women and 78.7% of geologists are men.
- Male, 78.7%
- Female, 21.3%
Geologist gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 78.7% |
| Female | 21.3% |
Geologist gender pay gap
Women earn 91¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$128,753
Female income
$117,167
Geologist gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in geologist positions over time. Currently, 21.3% of geologists are female.
Geologist gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 71.46% | 28.54% |
| 2011 | 70.89% | 29.11% |
| 2012 | 69.09% | 30.91% |
| 2013 | 67.97% | 32.03% |
| 2014 | 69.72% | 30.28% |
| 2015 | 68.70% | 31.30% |
| 2016 | 68.69% | 31.31% |
| 2017 | 67.06% | 32.94% |
| 2018 | 73.01% | 26.99% |
| 2019 | 74.34% | 25.66% |
| 2020 | 73.19% | 26.81% |
| 2021 | 78.66% | 21.34% |
Geologist related jobs gender ratio
We compared geologists with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, seismologist and optical scientist have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Aerologist | 11% | 89% |
| Senior Advocate | 33% | 67% |
| Geologist | 79% | 21% |
| Remote Sensing Engineer | 91% | 9% |
| Optical Scientist | 91% | 9% |
| Seismologist | 94% | 6% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Geologist demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among geologists is White, which makes up 81.9% of all geologists. Comparatively, 6.7% of geologists are Hispanic or Latino and 4.9% of geologists are Asian.
- White, 81.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 6.7%
- Asian, 4.9%
- Unknown, 4.8%
- Black or African American, 1.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
Geologist race
| Geologist race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 81.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 6.7% |
| Asian | 4.9% |
| Unknown | 4.8% |
| Black or African American | 1.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.7% |
Geologist race and ethnicity over time
See how geologist racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Geologist race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 83.33% | 2.73% | 6.43% | 6.24% |
| 2011 | 81.98% | 2.86% | 6.80% | 5.31% |
| 2012 | 83.61% | 2.99% | 5.18% | 4.86% |
| 2013 | 81.93% | 2.25% | 6.71% | 6.03% |
| 2014 | 81.92% | 2.63% | 7.98% | 4.78% |
| 2015 | 82.52% | 3.01% | 7.55% | 4.43% |
| 2016 | 83.08% | 2.80% | 5.98% | 5.82% |
| 2017 | 82.11% | 2.74% | 6.35% | 6.35% |
| 2018 | 84.05% | 2.01% | 6.86% | 5.62% |
| 2019 | 82.68% | 1.31% | 6.88% | 6.92% |
| 2020 | 83.27% | 1.66% | 4.53% | 6.09% |
| 2021 | 81.93% | 1.04% | 4.94% | 6.72% |
Geologist wage gap by race
According to our data, asian geologists have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american geologists have the lowest average salary at $120,468.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $127,032 |
| White | $121,792 |
| Black or African American | $120,468 |
| Asian | $145,656 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $130,334 |
Average geologist age
See how the average age of geologists varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Geologist age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 41 | |
| White | 46 | 40 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 44 |
Geologist age breakdown
The average age of geologists is 40+ years years old, representing 60% of the geologist population.
Geologist age breakdown
| Geologist Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 60% |
| 30-40 years | 31% |
| 20-30 years | 9% |
Geologist educational attainment
The most common degree for geologists is bachelor's degree, with 79% of geologists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 14% and master's degree degree at 4%.
- Bachelor's, 79%
- Master's, 14%
- Associate, 4%
- Doctorate, 1%
- Other Degrees, 2%
Geologists by degree level
| Geologist degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 79% |
| Master's | 14% |
| Associate | 4% |
| Doctorate | 1% |
| Other Degrees | 2% |
Geologist jobs you might like
Geologist wage gap by degree level
According to the data, geologists with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $151,991 annually. With a Master's degree, geologists earn a median annual income of $130,919 compared to $107,263 for geologists with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $130,919 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $107,263 |
| Doctorate Degree | $151,991 |
Geologist employment statistics
Most geologists work for a private in the energy industry.
Company size where geologists work
Below, you can see the size of companies where geologists work.
Geologist jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 19% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 22% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 27% |
| > 10,000 employees | 16% |
Geologist jobs by company type
Employees with the geologist job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most geologists prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Geologist jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 28% |
| Private | 54% |
| Government | 17% |
Geologist jobs by industry
The most common industries for geologists are energy, government and professional.
Geologist industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Energy | 24% |
| Government | 16% |
| Professional | 13% |
| Manufacturing | 11% |
| Construction | 7% |
| Fortune 500 | 7% |
| Technology | 6% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Retail | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Geologist turnover and employment statistics
Geologist unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for geologists between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Geologist unemployment rate by year
| Year | Geologist unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.40% |
| 2011 | 3.59% |
| 2012 | 2.76% |
| 2013 | 3.54% |
| 2014 | 2.58% |
| 2015 | 3.12% |
| 2016 | 2.97% |
| 2017 | 2.32% |
| 2018 | 1.53% |
| 2019 | 1.36% |
| 2020 | 5.86% |
| 2021 | 3.75% |
Average geologist tenure
The average geologist stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 5,987 geologists resumes in Zippia's database.
Geologist tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 23% |
| 1-2 years | 37% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 12% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 7% |
Geologist LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of geologists that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Geologist | 4.45% | - |
| Quality Control Chemist | 5.26% | 90,467 |
| Remote Sensing Scientist | 8.32% | 59,563 |
| Staff Environmental Scientist | 15.61% | 124,536 |
Similar geologist jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Quality Control Chemist | 5.26% | 90,467 |
| Remote Sensing Scientist | 8.32% | 59,563 |
| Staff Environmental Scientist | 15.61% | 124,536 |
Foreign languages spoken by geologists
The most common foreign language among geologists is Spanish at 51.5%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 10.3% and German is the third-most popular at 6.7%.
- Spanish, 51.5%
- French, 10.3%
- German, 6.7%
- Arabic, 5.5%
- Dakota, 4.2%
- Other, 21.8%
Geologist languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 51.5% |
| French | 10.3% |
| German | 6.7% |
| Arabic | 5.5% |
| Dakota | 4.2% |
| Other | 21.8% |
