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Exploration geologist salary
Average exploration geologist salary
$112,376
Average Exploration Geologist Salary
The average salary for an Exploration Geologist is approximately $112,376 per year. Salaries can vary widely based on location, experience, and the specific industry. For instance, geologists working in oil and gas extraction often earn higher wages compared to those in environmental consulting. Factors influencing salary include:
- Experience Level: Entry-level positions typically start lower, while seasoned professionals can command significantly higher salaries.
- Location: States like Alaska, Texas, and California often offer the highest wages due to demand for geological expertise in resource-rich areas.
- Industry: Specialized sectors, such as petroleum and mining, tend to pay premiums for skilled geologists.
As the industry evolves, the need for exploration geologists remains strong, providing a stable career path with competitive compensation. By staying updated on industry trends and continuously enhancing skills, geologists can further increase their earning potential over time.
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Where can an Exploration Geologist earn more?
Exploration geologist salary estimates from across the web
Average exploration geologist salary by state
The average exploration geologist salary in Texas, California, and Louisiana are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average exploration geologist salary states are Georgia, Nebraska, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for exploration geologists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $123,532 | $59.39 |
| 2 | Nevada | $99,136 | $47.66 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $113,962 | $54.79 |
| 4 | Texas | $124,979 | $60.09 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $92,930 | $44.68 |
| 6 | Idaho | $97,440 | $46.85 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $93,411 | $44.91 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $109,242 | $52.52 |
| 9 | Virginia | $107,143 | $51.51 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | $110,794 | $53.27 |
| 11 | Maine | $101,180 | $48.64 |
| 12 | Alaska | $95,710 | $46.01 |
| 13 | Washington | $96,953 | $46.61 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $92,668 | $44.55 |
| 15 | Colorado | $92,405 | $44.43 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $90,573 | $43.54 |
| 17 | South Carolina | $95,277 | $45.81 |
| 18 | Alabama | $92,869 | $44.65 |
| 19 | Ohio | $91,459 | $43.97 |
| 20 | Montana | $86,329 | $41.50 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $86,768 | $41.72 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $85,720 | $41.21 |
| 23 | Michigan | $88,376 | $42.49 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $88,511 | $42.55 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $91,991 | $44.23 |
| 26 | New York | $88,557 | $42.58 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $91,409 | $43.95 |
| 28 | Delaware | $89,702 | $43.13 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $81,485 | $39.18 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $85,592 | $41.15 |
| 31 | Arizona | $81,035 | $38.96 |
| 32 | Maryland | $88,517 | $42.56 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $82,505 | $39.67 |
| 34 | Vermont | $86,514 | $41.59 |
| 35 | Utah | $81,817 | $39.34 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $88,499 | $42.55 |
| 37 | Florida | $84,213 | $40.49 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $80,736 | $38.82 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $80,809 | $38.85 |
| 40 | Kansas | $72,912 | $35.05 |
| 41 | Oregon | $80,645 | $38.77 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $66,693 | $32.06 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $77,224 | $37.13 |
| 44 | Georgia | $67,869 | $32.63 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| 46 | Illinois | $71,791 | $34.51 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $65,622 | $31.55 |
| 48 | Iowa | $67,894 | $32.64 |
| 49 | Missouri | $68,999 | $33.17 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $66,176 | $31.82 |
| 51 | Indiana | $60,022 | $28.86 |
Highest paying cities for exploration geologists
The highest-paying cities for exploration geologists are Houston, TX, The Woodlands, TX, and Oklahoma City, OK.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $127,939 | $61.51 |
| 2 | The Woodlands, TX | $127,776 | $61.43 |
| 3 | Oklahoma City, OK | $113,906 | $54.76 |
| 4 | Richmond, VA | $107,367 | $51.62 |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $97,830 | $47.03 |
| 6 | Victor, CO | $97,346 | $46.80 |
| 7 | Fairbanks, AK | $94,255 | $45.31 |
| 8 | Valmy, NV | $93,577 | $44.99 |
| 9 | Centennial, CO | $92,716 | $44.58 |
| 10 | Elko, NV | $92,165 | $44.31 |
| 11 | Kings Mountain, NC | $64,222 | $30.88 |
Exploration geologist salary details
An exploration geologist's salary ranges from $65,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $191,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an exploration geologist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $191,000 | $15,917 | $92 |
| 75th Percentile | $148,000 | $12,333 | $71 |
| Average | $112,376 | $9,365 | $54 |
| 25th Percentile | $84,000 | $7,000 | $40 |
| 10th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
Highest paying exploration geologist jobs
The highest paying types of exploration geologists are research geologist, consulting geologist, and 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 |
| Petroleum Geologist | $111,574 | $9,298 | $53.64 | 1,291 |
| Geologist | $111,878 | $9,323 | $53.79 | 869 |
| Engineer And Geologist | $101,882 | $8,490 | $48.98 | 3,083 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for exploration geologists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Gregory Knapp Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Director, Sustainability Studies, The University of Texas at Austin
Top companies hiring exploration geologists now:
Which companies pay exploration geologists the most?
Exploration geologist salaries at Continental Resources and ConocoPhillips are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average exploration geologist salary at companies like Exxon Mobil and Chevron are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Continental Resources | $158,945 | $76.42 |
| 2 | ConocoPhillips | $157,697 | $75.82 |
| 3 | Exxon Mobil | $146,798 | $70.58 |
| 4 | Chevron | $146,193 | $70.29 |
| 5 | Integrated Production Services - IPS | $132,371 | $63.64 |
| 6 | Albemarle | $106,826 | $51.36 |
| 7 | Barrick Gold | $98,952 | $47.57 |
| 8 | Kinross Gold | $94,852 | $45.60 |
| 9 | Anglogold Ashanti North America Inc. | $82,426 | $39.63 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Exploration geologist salary trends
The average exploration geologist salary has risen by $10,940 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average exploration geologist earned $101,436 annually, but today, they earn $112,376 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for exploration geologists over the last decade.
Compare exploration geologist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average exploration geologist salary over time
Compare exploration geologist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Exploration geologist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $112,000 | $54.03 | +1.6% |
| 2025 | $111,000 | $53.14 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $109,000 | $52.61 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $108,000 | $51.87 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | $108,000 | $51.83 | +0.1% |
Recently added exploration geologist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groundtruthexploration | Exploration Geologist | Ione, CA | 02/16/2025 | $44,871 |
| Global Geologica USA Inc. | Exploration Geologist | Reno, NV | 02/05/2025 | $55,000 |
| Global Geologica USA Inc. | Exploration Geologist | Reno, NV | 01/13/2025 | $55,000 |
| Global Geologica USA Inc. | Exploration Geologist | Truckee, CA | 10/31/2024 | $75,858 |
| Koboldmetals | Senior Exploration Geologist | Pope, MS | 09/26/2024 | $110,000 |
| Koboldmetals | Senior Exploration Geologist | Pope, MS | 09/11/2024 | $110,000 |
| L.K. Jordan & Associates | Exploration Geologist | Refugio, TX | 09/03/2024 | $150,000 |
| Global Geologica USA Inc. | Exploration Geologist | Truckee, CA | 06/23/2024 | $70,560 |
| Verai | Senior Exploration Geologist | Louisville, CO | 05/25/2024 | $110,000 |
| Nevada Gold Mines LLC | Senior Exploration Geologist | Carlin, NV | 12/15/2023 | $105,000 |
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