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The average salary for an Exploration Manager is approximately $49,995 annually, translating to about $24 per hour. This figure varies significantly based on factors such as geographical location, years of experience, and industry sector. For instance, exploration managers in states with rich natural resources often earn higher salaries due to increased demand for skilled professionals.
Entry-level positions typically start lower, around $35,000, while experienced managers can earn upwards of $70,000 annually. This upward trajectory emphasizes the value of experience in this field.
Some of the highest paying states for this role include California, Texas, and Alaska, where the exploration industry is thriving. These locations offer not only competitive salaries but also opportunities for career growth.
As resource exploration continues to expand, the demand for qualified Exploration Managers is expected to grow. Companies are seeking individuals with strong leadership skills and a background in geology, engineering, or environmental science.
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The average exploration manager salary in Alaska, New York, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average exploration manager salary states are Montana, South Carolina, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $78,540 | $37.76 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $69,903 | $33.61 |
| 3 | Delaware | $66,475 | $31.96 |
| 4 | New York | $87,035 | $41.84 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $68,585 | $32.97 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $65,811 | $31.64 |
| 7 | California | $68,819 | $33.09 |
| 8 | Alaska | $99,128 | $47.66 |
| 9 | Washington | $63,403 | $30.48 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $76,731 | $36.89 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $58,435 | $28.09 |
| 12 | Ohio | $49,967 | $24.02 |
| 13 | Vermont | $54,724 | $26.31 |
| 14 | Illinois | $52,205 | $25.10 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $49,629 | $23.86 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $57,800 | $27.79 |
| 17 | Michigan | $49,584 | $23.84 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $54,445 | $26.18 |
| 19 | Indiana | $47,062 | $22.63 |
| 20 | Arizona | $51,476 | $24.75 |
| 21 | Maryland | $49,124 | $23.62 |
| 22 | Nevada | $48,092 | $23.12 |
| 23 | Texas | $52,260 | $25.13 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $50,593 | $24.32 |
| 25 | Maine | $51,766 | $24.89 |
| 26 | Florida | $46,956 | $22.57 |
| 27 | Oregon | $48,653 | $23.39 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $47,914 | $23.04 |
| 29 | Virginia | $43,937 | $21.12 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $50,327 | $24.20 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $47,940 | $23.05 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $42,352 | $20.36 |
| 33 | Iowa | $42,526 | $20.45 |
| 34 | Idaho | $45,477 | $21.86 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $42,998 | $20.67 |
| 36 | Missouri | $45,982 | $22.11 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $44,857 | $21.57 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $38,579 | $18.55 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $42,382 | $20.38 |
| 40 | Kansas | $41,767 | $20.08 |
| 41 | Alabama | $42,010 | $20.20 |
| 42 | Colorado | $40,203 | $19.33 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $38,953 | $18.73 |
| 44 | Georgia | $39,478 | $18.98 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $40,140 | $19.30 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $37,476 | $18.02 |
| 47 | Utah | $34,545 | $16.61 |
| 48 | Montana | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $37,143 | $17.86 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $34,562 | $16.62 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $37,060 | $17.82 |
The highest-paying cities for exploration managers are Anchorage, AK, New York, NY, and Carmel Valley Village, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $102,179 | $49.12 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $88,429 | $42.51 |
| 3 | Carmel Valley Village, CA | $71,690 | $34.47 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $68,399 | $32.88 |
| 5 | Bellevue, WA | $63,822 | $30.68 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $52,722 | $25.35 |
| 7 | Beaverton, OR | $48,251 | $23.20 |
| 8 | Valmy, NV | $40,312 | $19.38 |
| 9 | Golden, CO | $40,079 | $19.27 |
| 10 | Heavener, OK | $39,193 | $18.84 |
| 11 | Eureka, UT | $34,716 | $16.69 |
An exploration manager's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $101,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $101,000 | $8,417 | $49 |
| 75th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| Average | $49,995 | $4,166 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
The highest paying types of exploration managers are supervisor and project manager, assistant superintendent, and electrical contractor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project Supervisor | $53,609 | $4,467 | $25.77 | 20,450 |
| Field Supervisor | $42,894 | $3,574 | $20.62 | 56,540 |
| House Supervisor | $61,029 | $5,086 | $29.34 | 38,478 |
| Site Supervisor | $48,250 | $4,021 | $23.20 | 20,025 |
| Crew Supervisor | $41,760 | $3,480 | $20.08 | 68,330 |
| Crew Foreman | $51,929 | $4,327 | $24.97 | 70,468 |
Top companies hiring exploration managers now:
Exploration manager salaries at Hess and Chevron are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average exploration manager salary at companies like Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Bellevue Jr/Sr High School are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hess | $146,825 | $70.59 |
| 2 | Chevron | $138,131 | $66.41 |
| 3 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group | $64,903 | $31.20 |
| 4 | Bellevue Jr/Sr High School | $64,170 | $30.85 |
| 5 | Broken Hill Proprietary | $51,699 | $24.86 |
| 6 | National Geographic | $50,673 | $24.36 |
| 7 | Aimbridge Hospitality | $49,125 | $23.62 |
| 8 | Maersk Line | $45,858 | $22.05 |
| 9 | Nike | $32,185 | $15.47 |
The average exploration manager salary has risen by $6,404 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average exploration manager earned $43,591 annually, but today, they earn $49,995 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for exploration managers over the last decade.
Compare exploration manager salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare exploration manager salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,000 | $24.04 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $48,800 | $23.46 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $48,100 | $23.11 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $47,200 | $22.70 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $46,400 | $22.31 | +1.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camsharks/Camsharkslive | Explore New Horizons | San Antonio, TX | 05/23/2025 | $41,740 |
| Oradell Public School District | 2025 Summer Explorations Staff | Oradell, NJ | 03/24/2025 | $104,350 |
| Aecom | Assistant Field Exploration Manager | Sacramento, CA | 03/21/2025 | $110,000 |
| The Doe Run Company | Exploration/LAB-Summer Student | Viburnum, MO | 03/20/2025 | $37,044 |
| Thanksgiving Point | Explorer-Jurassic Jungle | Lehi, UT | 03/06/2025 | $22,957 |
| Camsharks/Camsharkslive | Explore New Horizons | San Antonio, TX | 02/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Oradell Public School District | 2025 Summer Explorations Staff | Oradell, NJ | 02/19/2025 | $104,350 |
| Thanksgiving Point Institute | Explorer-Ashton Gardens (Seasonal-Tulip Festival) | Lehi, UT | 02/15/2025 | $22,957 |
| Kryptonite LLC | Exploration Manager | Incline Village, NV | 02/11/2025 | $89,160 |
| Camsharks/Camsharkslive | Explore New Horizons | San Antonio, TX | 01/24/2025 | $41,740 |
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