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Staff geologist salary
Average staff geologist salary
$108,966
Understanding Staff Geologist Salaries
A Staff Geologist plays a crucial role in the environmental and geological sectors, with a median salary of $108,966 annually in the United States. This figure may fluctuate based on various factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry sector. For instance, states like California and Texas tend to offer higher salaries due to demand and cost of living.
Salary by State
In states like Alaska and Washington, salaries often exceed the national average, reflecting the local demand for geological expertise. Additionally, specialized roles within industries such as energy and environmental consulting can command even higher compensation. Understanding these dynamics is essential for professionals looking to negotiate their salaries effectively.
Highest Paying Industries
- Oil and Gas Extraction
- Environmental Consulting
- Mining
- Government Agencies
Exploring these industries may provide staff geologists with lucrative opportunities for career advancement and increased earning potential.
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Where can a Staff Geologist earn more?
Staff geologist salary estimates from across the web
Average staff geologist salary by state
The average staff geologist salary in Texas, Louisiana, and Hawaii are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average staff geologist salary states are Georgia, Nebraska, and North Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for staff geologists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | $107,555 | $51.71 |
| 2 | Maine | $94,141 | $45.26 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $89,804 | $43.17 |
| 4 | Texas | $135,264 | $65.03 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $89,235 | $42.90 |
| 6 | California | $95,174 | $45.76 |
| 7 | Washington | $91,973 | $44.22 |
| 8 | Virginia | $102,010 | $49.04 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | $101,459 | $48.78 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $104,677 | $50.33 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $88,005 | $42.31 |
| 12 | Idaho | $92,252 | $44.35 |
| 13 | Alabama | $84,515 | $40.63 |
| 14 | Nevada | $83,719 | $40.25 |
| 15 | Ohio | $84,438 | $40.60 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $85,831 | $41.26 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $86,246 | $41.46 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $88,373 | $42.49 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $85,853 | $41.28 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $86,711 | $41.69 |
| 21 | New York | $85,756 | $41.23 |
| 22 | Colorado | $85,014 | $40.87 |
| 23 | Delaware | $86,489 | $41.58 |
| 24 | Maryland | $84,596 | $40.67 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $84,298 | $40.53 |
| 26 | Alaska | $89,229 | $42.90 |
| 27 | Montana | $81,909 | $39.38 |
| 28 | Michigan | $81,480 | $39.17 |
| 29 | Vermont | $80,536 | $38.72 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $78,426 | $37.70 |
| 31 | Utah | $77,451 | $37.24 |
| 32 | Arizona | $78,230 | $37.61 |
| 33 | Oregon | $75,817 | $36.45 |
| 34 | Florida | $77,901 | $37.45 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $79,276 | $38.11 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $78,505 | $37.74 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $79,010 | $37.99 |
| 38 | Illinois | $65,862 | $31.66 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $71,126 | $34.20 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $75,986 | $36.53 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $74,906 | $36.01 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $75,200 | $36.15 |
| 43 | Kansas | $66,057 | $31.76 |
| 44 | Missouri | $62,576 | $30.08 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $59,151 | $28.44 |
| 46 | Georgia | $61,383 | $29.51 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $61,251 | $29.45 |
| 48 | Iowa | $62,475 | $30.04 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $60,189 | $28.94 |
| 50 | Indiana | $54,978 | $26.43 |
| 51 | Wisconsin | $55,782 | $26.82 |
Highest paying cities for staff geologists
The highest-paying cities for staff geologists are Corpus Christi, TX, Oklahoma City, OK, and Virginia Beach, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corpus Christi, TX | $143,529 | $69.00 |
| 2 | Oklahoma City, OK | $104,780 | $50.38 |
| 3 | Virginia Beach, VA | $104,556 | $50.27 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $95,911 | $46.11 |
| 5 | Richland, WA | $91,749 | $44.11 |
| 6 | Colorado Springs, CO | $88,689 | $42.64 |
| 7 | Mount Laurel, NJ | $85,254 | $40.99 |
| 8 | Missoula, MT | $85,046 | $40.89 |
| 9 | Columbia, MD | $84,582 | $40.66 |
| 10 | Las Vegas, NV | $84,066 | $40.42 |
| 11 | Carlsbad, NM | $79,939 | $38.43 |
| 12 | Orlando, FL | $78,937 | $37.95 |
| 13 | Grand Forks, ND | $76,492 | $36.77 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $66,374 | $31.91 |
| 15 | Lawrenceville, GA | $59,756 | $28.73 |
| 16 | Charlotte, NC | $58,998 | $28.36 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $54,616 | $26.26 |
Staff geologist salary details
A staff geologist's salary ranges from $62,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $189,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a staff geologist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $189,000 | $15,750 | $91 |
| 75th Percentile | $145,000 | $12,083 | $70 |
| Average | $108,966 | $9,081 | $52 |
| 25th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39 |
| 10th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
Highest paying staff geologist jobs
The highest paying types of staff geologists are research geologist, exploration geologist, and consulting geologist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientist | $60,208 | $5,017 | $28.95 | 56,425 |
| 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 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for staff 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 staff geologists now:
Which companies pay staff geologists the most?
Staff geologist salaries at ConocoPhillips and Occidental Petroleum are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average staff geologist salary at companies like Intertek and RSM US are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ConocoPhillips | $151,475 | $72.82 |
| 2 | Occidental Petroleum | $139,704 | $67.17 |
| 3 | Intertek | $134,531 | $64.68 |
| 4 | RSM US | $122,884 | $59.08 |
| 5 | TransAtlantic Petroleum | $118,542 | $56.99 |
| 6 | Sea | $118,134 | $56.80 |
| 7 | Broken Hill Proprietary | $116,580 | $56.05 |
| 8 | Geomatrix Consultants | $116,580 | $56.05 |
| 9 | Core Laboratories | $115,726 | $55.64 |
| 10 | Sealaska | $107,688 | $51.77 |
| 11 | Ormat Technologies | $107,483 | $51.67 |
| 12 | Apex Companies | $105,336 | $50.64 |
| 13 | Smith-Emery | $103,278 | $49.65 |
| 14 | HydroGeoLogic | $102,497 | $49.28 |
| 15 | Geosyntec Consultants | $98,170 | $47.20 |
| 16 | Golder Associates | $96,328 | $46.31 |
| 17 | Barrick Gold | $92,673 | $44.55 |
| 18 | Leighton Group | $90,062 | $43.30 |
| 19 | Crux Subsurface | $87,647 | $42.14 |
| 20 | Universal Engineering Sciences | $84,038 | $40.40 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Staff Geologist salary by industry
The average staff geologist salary varies across industries:
- The average staff geologist salary in the energy industry is $129,703, the highest of any industry.
- The average staff geologist salary in the finance industry is $104,670.
- Staff geologists in the professional industry earn an average salary of $75,769, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for staff geologists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $129,703 | $62.36 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $104,670 | $50.32 |
| 3 | Government | $96,550 | $46.42 |
| 4 | Technology | $85,962 | $41.33 |
| 5 | Construction | $85,890 | $41.29 |
| 6 | Professional | $75,769 | $36.43 |
High paying staff geologist jobs
Staff geologist salary trends
The average staff geologist salary has risen by $10,607 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average staff geologist earned $98,359 annually, but today, they earn $108,966 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for staff geologists over the last decade.
Compare staff geologist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average staff geologist salary over time
Compare staff geologist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Staff geologist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $109,000 | $52.39 | +1.6% |
| 2025 | $107,000 | $51.53 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $106,000 | $51.02 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $105,000 | $50.30 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | $105,000 | $50.26 | +0.1% |
Recently added staff geologist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tetra Tech, Inc. | Staff Archeologist | Salt Lake City, UT | 06/26/2025 | $68,000 |
| Terracon | Senior Staff Geologist | Fort Collins, CO | 06/19/2025 | $70,000 |
| Stantec Inc. | Staff Geologist | Seattle, WA | 06/18/2025 | $83,700 |
| Nv5 Global, Inc. | Staff Geologist/Engineer | Seattle, WA | 05/29/2025 | $65,000 |
| Montrose Environmental Group | Staff Geologist, Engineer or Scientist-Soil Sampling | Denver, CO | 05/27/2025 | $60,000 |
| Oneida Total Integrated Enterprises | Staff Geologist | Oxnard, CA | 05/23/2025 | $69,000 |
| Oneida ESC Group | Staff Geologist | Ione, CA | 05/22/2025 | $69,000 |
| Montrose Services | Staff Archeologist (Socal) | | Ione, CA | 05/16/2025 | $56,349 |
| Nv5 | Staff Geologist I | Truckee, CA | 05/16/2025 | $90,000 |
| Nv5 Global, Inc. | Staff Geologist I | Truckee, CA | 05/13/2025 | $90,000 |
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