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Seismologist salary
Average seismologist salary
$92,667
Understanding Seismologist Salaries
The average salary for a seismologist stands at $92,667 per year, which translates to approximately $45 per hour. This figure is influenced by various factors including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector in which they work. For instance, seismologists in states like California and Alaska tend to earn higher salaries due to increased demand for their expertise in earthquake-prone regions.
Salary Variations
Entry-level positions may start at a lower salary, while experienced seismologists can command significantly higher pay. The demand for seismic research in academia, government agencies, and private sectors also affects salary ranges. For those looking to maximize their earning potential, pursuing advanced degrees and certifications in geophysics or related fields can lead to higher-paying opportunities.
Job Outlook
As understanding seismic activities becomes increasingly important for infrastructure safety and disaster preparedness, the job outlook for seismologists remains positive. Individuals interested in this field should consider gaining experience through internships or research positions to enhance their qualifications.
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Where can a Seismologist earn more?
Seismologist salary estimates from across the web
Average seismologist salary by state
The highest-paying states for seismologists are Texas, Alaska, and California. The lowest average seismologist salary states are Nebraska, North Carolina, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for seismologists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $111,700 | $53.70 |
| 2 | Texas | $115,482 | $55.52 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $87,803 | $42.21 |
| 4 | Idaho | $91,378 | $43.93 |
| 5 | California | $99,377 | $47.78 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | $97,811 | $47.02 |
| 7 | Nevada | $87,061 | $41.86 |
| 8 | Virginia | $98,042 | $47.14 |
| 9 | Kentucky | $85,302 | $41.01 |
| 10 | Ohio | $87,264 | $41.95 |
| 11 | Washington | $96,120 | $46.21 |
| 12 | Maine | $88,980 | $42.78 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $85,242 | $40.98 |
| 14 | South Carolina | $86,833 | $41.75 |
| 15 | Montana | $87,548 | $42.09 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $84,066 | $40.42 |
| 17 | Michigan | $84,409 | $40.58 |
| 18 | Louisiana | $81,344 | $39.11 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $83,853 | $40.31 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $84,380 | $40.57 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $82,115 | $39.48 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $80,209 | $38.56 |
| 23 | Colorado | $84,356 | $40.56 |
| 24 | Alabama | $81,310 | $39.09 |
| 25 | Delaware | $80,350 | $38.63 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $80,153 | $38.54 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $78,226 | $37.61 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $80,258 | $38.59 |
| 29 | Maryland | $79,868 | $38.40 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $78,895 | $37.93 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $78,627 | $37.80 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | $79,447 | $38.20 |
| 33 | New Jersey | $78,482 | $37.73 |
| 34 | Vermont | $77,386 | $37.20 |
| 35 | Arizona | $72,470 | $34.84 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $79,904 | $38.42 |
| 37 | Utah | $71,551 | $34.40 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $73,537 | $35.35 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $68,099 | $32.74 |
| 40 | New York | $78,415 | $37.70 |
| 41 | Iowa | $70,449 | $33.87 |
| 42 | Oregon | $74,741 | $35.93 |
| 43 | Kansas | $70,133 | $33.72 |
| 44 | Florida | $71,008 | $34.14 |
| 45 | Illinois | $71,603 | $34.42 |
| 46 | Missouri | $68,712 | $33.03 |
| 47 | Wisconsin | $60,063 | $28.88 |
| 48 | Indiana | $59,661 | $28.68 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $61,332 | $29.49 |
| 50 | Georgia | $61,332 | $29.49 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $57,617 | $27.70 |
Highest paying cities for seismologists
The highest-paying cities for seismologists are Dallas, TX, Los Angeles, CA, and Pasadena, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $114,619 | $55.11 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $98,415 | $47.31 |
| 3 | Pasadena, CA | $98,366 | $47.29 |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | $97,442 | $46.85 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $82,694 | $39.76 |
| 6 | Frederick, MD | $79,687 | $38.31 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $79,461 | $38.20 |
| 8 | Lexington, MA | $79,367 | $38.16 |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | $61,903 | $29.76 |
Seismologist salary details
A seismologist's salary ranges from $66,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $129,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a seismologist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $129,000 | $10,750 | $62 |
| 75th Percentile | $110,000 | $9,167 | $53 |
| Average | $92,667 | $7,722 | $45 |
| 25th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
| 10th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
Highest paying seismologist jobs
The highest paying types of seismologists are research geologist, exploration geologist, and consulting 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 |
| Engineer And Geologist | $101,882 | $8,490 | $48.98 | 3,083 |
| Exploration Geologist | $112,376 | $9,365 | $54.03 | 667 |
| Consulting Geologist | $112,160 | $9,347 | $53.92 | 5,484 |
Top companies hiring seismologists now:
Which companies pay seismologists the most?
Seismologist salaries at AIR Worldwide and Rizzo Services are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average seismologist salary at companies like URS E&C; Holdings Inc and California Institute of Technology are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AIR Worldwide | $101,981 | $49.03 |
| 2 | Rizzo Services | $93,653 | $45.03 |
| 3 | URS E&C Holdings Inc | $93,392 | $44.90 |
| 4 | California Institute of Technology | $86,562 | $41.62 |
| 5 | ARA | $83,245 | $40.02 |
| 6 | AECOM | $75,363 | $36.23 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Seismologist salary trends
The average seismologist salary has risen by $9,021 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average seismologist earned $83,646 annually, but today, they earn $92,667 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for seismologists over the last decade.
Compare seismologist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average seismologist salary over time
Compare seismologist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Seismologist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $92,700 | $44.55 | +1.6% |
| 2025 | $91,100 | $43.82 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $90,200 | $43.39 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $89,000 | $42.78 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | $88,900 | $42.74 | +0.1% |
Recently added seismologist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana Tech | Seismologist/Geologist | Butte-Silver Bow, MT | 06/28/2025 | $12,689 |
| Montana Technological University | Seismologist/Geologist | Butte-Silver Bow, MT | 06/27/2025 | $12,689 |
| Fervo Energy | Senior Seismologist | Houston, TX | 04/04/2025 | $145,000 |
| University of Texas-Austin | Seismologist-Analyst | Campus, IL | 12/15/2024 | $67,000 |
| University of Texas-Austin | Seismologist-Analyst | Campus, IL | 10/28/2024 | $67,000 |
| University of Texas at Austin | Seismologist-Analyst | Austin, TX | 07/23/2024 | $62,000 |
| University of Texas at Austin | Seismologist-Analyst | Austin, TX | 05/22/2024 | $67,000 |
| University of Texas at Austin | Seismologist-Analyst | Austin, TX | 05/22/2024 | $67,000 |
| Aecom | Senior Seismologist/Engineering Seismologist | Seattle, WA | 05/14/2024 | $110,000 |
| Aecom | Senior Seismologist/Engineering Seismologist | Seattle, WA | 05/14/2024 | $110,000 |
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