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Seismic engineer salary
Average seismic engineer salary
$88,120
Average Seismic Engineer Salary
The average salary for a seismic engineer stands at $88,120 annually, translating to roughly $42 per hour. Compensation varies based on experience, location, and the specific industry in which one works. For instance, seismic engineers in high-demand areas or specialized sectors may command higher salaries.
Salary by State
Different states offer varying compensation levels for seismic engineers. The highest paying states include California, Texas, and New York, where demand for these professionals remains strong. For example:
- California: Average salary of $100,000
- Texas: Average salary of $92,000
- New York: Average salary of $95,000
In addition to location, factors such as industry and years of experience can significantly impact salary levels. Industries like construction, oil and gas, and civil engineering typically offer competitive salaries, making them appealing options for aspiring seismic engineers.
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Where can a Seismic Engineer earn more?
Seismic engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average seismic engineer salary by state
The average seismic engineer salary in New Mexico, California, and Oregon are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average seismic engineer salary states are South Carolina, Vermont, and Kentucky.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for seismic engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $105,557 | $50.75 |
| 2 | California | $108,061 | $51.95 |
| 3 | Washington | $99,875 | $48.02 |
| 4 | Colorado | $96,713 | $46.50 |
| 5 | Michigan | $105,409 | $50.68 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $114,457 | $55.03 |
| 7 | Idaho | $94,583 | $45.47 |
| 8 | Arizona | $91,841 | $44.15 |
| 9 | Arkansas | $103,824 | $49.92 |
| 10 | Nevada | $97,714 | $46.98 |
| 11 | Texas | $87,896 | $42.26 |
| 12 | Alaska | $93,741 | $45.07 |
| 13 | Delaware | $86,707 | $41.69 |
| 14 | Ohio | $93,217 | $44.82 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $96,490 | $46.39 |
| 16 | New York | $89,832 | $43.19 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $85,508 | $41.11 |
| 18 | Georgia | $83,565 | $40.18 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $86,073 | $41.38 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $79,965 | $38.44 |
| 21 | Utah | $80,712 | $38.80 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $85,303 | $41.01 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $83,127 | $39.96 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $79,726 | $38.33 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $81,168 | $39.02 |
| 26 | Virginia | $78,176 | $37.58 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $77,354 | $37.19 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $82,631 | $39.73 |
| 29 | Maine | $79,825 | $38.38 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $77,664 | $37.34 |
| 31 | Florida | $77,056 | $37.05 |
| 32 | Illinois | $75,069 | $36.09 |
| 33 | Montana | $76,815 | $36.93 |
| 34 | Maryland | $74,489 | $35.81 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $79,280 | $38.12 |
| 36 | Massachusetts | $73,079 | $35.13 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $74,665 | $35.90 |
| 38 | Kansas | $75,178 | $36.14 |
| 39 | Connecticut | $74,168 | $35.66 |
| 40 | Iowa | $74,513 | $35.82 |
| 41 | Vermont | $70,332 | $33.81 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $74,123 | $35.64 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $71,894 | $34.56 |
| 44 | Missouri | $73,944 | $35.55 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $71,734 | $34.49 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $70,722 | $34.00 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $71,223 | $34.24 |
| 48 | Alabama | $65,490 | $31.49 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $70,243 | $33.77 |
| 50 | Indiana | $67,085 | $32.25 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $55,647 | $26.75 |
Highest paying cities for seismic engineers
The highest-paying cities for seismic engineers are San Francisco, CA, Denver, CO, and Houston, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $117,549 | $56.51 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $96,525 | $46.41 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $87,514 | $42.07 |
| 4 | Kennesaw, GA | $83,571 | $40.18 |
| 5 | Orlando, FL | $79,381 | $38.16 |
| 6 | New Berlin, WI | $74,687 | $35.91 |
| 7 | New Iberia, LA | $74,262 | $35.70 |
| 8 | Aiken, SC | $70,853 | $34.06 |
Seismic engineer salary details
A seismic engineer's salary ranges from $61,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $126,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a seismic engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $126,000 | $10,500 | $61 |
| 75th Percentile | $106,000 | $8,833 | $51 |
| Average | $88,120 | $7,343 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| 10th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
Highest paying seismic engineer jobs
The highest paying types of seismic engineers are principal engineer, mining manager, and mine safety director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal Engineer | $130,213 | $10,851 | $62.60 | 312,683 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Structures Engineer | $73,391 | $6,116 | $35.28 | 20,778 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $75,352 | $6,279 | $36.23 | 105,618 |
| Process Engineer | $82,443 | $6,870 | $39.64 | 66,937 |
| Mine Engineer | $83,246 | $6,937 | $40.02 | 3,627 |
Top companies hiring seismic engineers now:
Which companies pay seismic engineers the most?
Seismic engineer salaries at Halliburton and Shaw Environmental Inc. are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average seismic engineer salary at companies like *n/a* and Konecranes are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halliburton | $112,528 | $54.10 |
| 2 | Shaw Environmental Inc. | $102,696 | $49.37 |
| 3 | *n/a* | $102,536 | $49.30 |
| 4 | Konecranes | $101,983 | $49.03 |
| 5 | Enercon | $95,168 | $45.75 |
| 6 | Southern Nuclear | $80,783 | $38.84 |
| 7 | Planate Management Group | $80,028 | $38.48 |
| 8 | Arup | $70,415 | $33.85 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Seismic Engineer salary by industry
The average seismic engineer salary varies across industries:
- The average seismic engineer salary in the energy industry is $108,356, the highest of any industry.
- The average seismic engineer salary in the finance industry is $102,570.
- Seismic engineers in the professional industry earn an average salary of $80,777, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for seismic engineers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $108,356 | $52.09 |
| 2 | Utilities | $102,570 | $49.31 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $87,790 | $42.21 |
| 4 | Professional | $80,777 | $38.84 |
High paying seismic engineer jobs
Seismic engineer salary trends
The average seismic engineer salary has risen by $8,924 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average seismic engineer earned $79,195 annually, but today, they earn $88,120 a year. That works out to a 0% change in pay for seismic engineers over the last decade.
Compare seismic engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average seismic engineer salary over time
Compare seismic engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Seismic engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $88,100 | $42.37 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $85,600 | $41.17 | -1.2% |
| 2023 | $86,700 | $41.67 | -2.2% |
| 2022 | $88,500 | $42.56 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | $88,000 | $42.33 | -0.3% |
Recently added seismic engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partner Engineering and Science | PE Licensed-Structural/Seismic Engineer | Irvine, CA | 04/05/2025 | $75,000 |
| Partner Engineering and Science | PE Licensed-Structural/Seismic Engineer | Oakland, CA | 02/14/2025 | $75,000 |
| Protingent | Principal Seismic Probabilistic Risk Assessment Engineer | Bellevue, WA | 10/14/2024 | $146,090 |
| Geotechnical Resources Inc. | Staff Seismic Engineer | Tigard, OR | 05/15/2024 | $90,002 |
| Planate Management Group LLC | Structural Seismic Engineer | Salt Lake City, UT | 05/10/2024 | $80,000 |
| Planate Management Group LLC | Structural Seismic Engineer | Portland, OR | 05/10/2024 | $80,000 |
| Planate Management Group LLC | Structural Seismic Engineer | San Francisco, CA | 05/10/2024 | $80,000 |
| Planate Management Group LLC | Structural Seismic Engineer | Salt Lake City, UT | 05/10/2024 | $80,000 |
| Planate Management Group LLC | Structural Seismic Engineer | Portland, OR | 05/10/2024 | $80,000 |
| Planate Management Group LLC | Structural Seismic Engineer | San Francisco, CA | 05/10/2024 | $80,000 |
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