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Best states for a senior geologist
Quoted expert
Lysa Chizmadia
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a senior geologist and really want to work at ConocoPhillips? Turns out, your chances to become a senior geologist are better in some states than others.We wanted to look at the best states for senior geologists -- where there are plenty of senior geologist jobs to go around and senior geologists get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for senior geologists.If you are currently seeking employment as a senior geologist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for senior geologists in 2026
1. Maine
Total senior geologist jobs: 61 Average annual salary: $95,495 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 4.05
2. Oklahoma
Total senior geologist jobs: 49 Average annual salary: $106,721 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
3. California
Total senior geologist jobs: 453 Average annual salary: $117,702 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
4. Texas
Total senior geologist jobs: 198 Average annual salary: $126,194 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
5. Idaho
Total senior geologist jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $93,963 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
6. West Virginia
Total senior geologist jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $87,988 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 2.08
7. Louisiana
Total senior geologist jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $110,502 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location Quotient: 0.74
8. Virginia
Total senior geologist jobs: 104 Average annual salary: $102,156 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
9. Washington
Total senior geologist jobs: 135 Average annual salary: $93,599 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location Quotient: 1.63
10. Alaska
Total senior geologist jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $92,328 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 3.27
Senior geologist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior geologist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior geologist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $95,495 | $55,000 | 1,335,907 | 61 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | $106,721 | $61,000 | 3,930,864 | 49 |
| 3 | California | $117,702 | $71,000 | 39,536,653 | 453 |
| 4 | Texas | $126,194 | $76,000 | 28,304,596 | 198 |
| 5 | Idaho | $93,963 | $54,000 | 1,716,943 | 28 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $87,988 | $49,000 | 1,815,857 | 36 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $110,502 | $64,000 | 4,684,333 | 27 |
| 8 | Virginia | $102,156 | $59,000 | 8,470,020 | 104 |
| 9 | Washington | $93,599 | $55,000 | 7,405,743 | 135 |
| 10 | Alaska | $92,328 | $57,000 | 739,795 | 31 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $89,403 | $51,000 | 1,059,639 | 20 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $89,576 | $51,000 | 12,805,537 | 125 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $106,112 | $72,000 | 1,427,538 | 12 |
| 14 | South Carolina | $90,895 | $51,000 | 5,024,369 | 45 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $88,085 | $50,000 | 3,588,184 | 85 |
| 16 | Ohio | $86,305 | $48,000 | 11,658,609 | 105 |
| 17 | Colorado | $94,661 | $54,000 | 5,607,154 | 39 |
| 18 | Nevada | $84,098 | $48,000 | 2,998,039 | 41 |
| 19 | Montana | $83,470 | $48,000 | 1,050,493 | 23 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $86,701 | $50,000 | 1,342,795 | 18 |
| 21 | Alabama | $89,320 | $50,000 | 4,874,747 | 18 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $78,129 | $46,000 | 755,393 | 46 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $81,685 | $45,000 | 4,454,189 | 54 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $84,487 | $47,000 | 693,972 | 33 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $83,117 | $46,000 | 6,715,984 | 54 |
| 26 | Florida | $80,994 | $47,000 | 20,984,400 | 278 |
| 27 | Vermont | $81,575 | $46,000 | 623,657 | 13 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $77,828 | $44,000 | 579,315 | 12 |
| 29 | Massachusetts | $88,546 | $51,000 | 6,859,819 | 51 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $82,605 | $46,000 | 2,984,100 | 16 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $80,162 | $45,000 | 2,088,070 | 26 |
| 32 | Michigan | $82,932 | $46,000 | 9,962,311 | 48 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $77,135 | $45,000 | 869,666 | 13 |
| 34 | Delaware | $86,175 | $48,000 | 961,939 | 3 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $85,233 | $48,000 | 9,005,644 | 50 |
| 36 | New York | $85,167 | $48,000 | 19,849,399 | 65 |
| 37 | Maryland | $84,554 | $47,000 | 6,052,177 | 44 |
| 38 | Arizona | $78,904 | $45,000 | 7,016,270 | 60 |
| 39 | Utah | $78,820 | $44,000 | 3,101,833 | 14 |
| 40 | Iowa | $64,343 | $37,000 | 3,145,711 | 50 |
| 41 | Oregon | $77,378 | $44,000 | 4,142,776 | 35 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $63,443 | $35,000 | 3,004,279 | 36 |
| 43 | Kansas | $69,676 | $39,000 | 2,913,123 | 27 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $73,263 | $42,000 | 5,576,606 | 59 |
| 45 | Illinois | $67,616 | $38,000 | 12,802,023 | 118 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $63,768 | $36,000 | 1,920,076 | 22 |
| 47 | Missouri | $65,725 | $37,000 | 6,113,532 | 51 |
| 48 | Indiana | $56,608 | $31,000 | 6,666,818 | 84 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $57,040 | $32,000 | 5,795,483 | 62 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $62,131 | $34,000 | 10,273,419 | 94 |
| 51 | Georgia | $64,970 | $36,000 | 10,429,379 | 74 |
Highest paying states for senior geologists
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Geologist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $95,495 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | $106,721 |
| 3 | California | $117,702 |
| 4 | Texas | $126,194 |
| 5 | Idaho | $93,963 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $87,988 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $110,502 |
| 8 | Virginia | $102,156 |
| 9 | Washington | $93,599 |
| 10 | Alaska | $92,328 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $89,403 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $89,576 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $106,112 |
| 14 | South Carolina | $90,895 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $88,085 |
| 16 | Ohio | $86,305 |
| 17 | Colorado | $94,661 |
| 18 | Nevada | $84,098 |
| 19 | Montana | $83,470 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $86,701 |
| 21 | Alabama | $89,320 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $78,129 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $81,685 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $84,487 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $83,117 |
| 26 | Florida | $80,994 |
| 27 | Vermont | $81,575 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $77,828 |
| 29 | Massachusetts | $88,546 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $82,605 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $80,162 |
| 32 | Michigan | $82,932 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $77,135 |
| 34 | Delaware | $86,175 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $85,233 |
| 36 | New York | $85,167 |
| 37 | Maryland | $84,554 |
| 38 | Arizona | $78,904 |
| 39 | Utah | $78,820 |
| 40 | Iowa | $64,343 |
| 41 | Oregon | $77,378 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $63,443 |
| 43 | Kansas | $69,676 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $73,263 |
| 45 | Illinois | $67,616 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $63,768 |
| 47 | Missouri | $65,725 |
| 48 | Indiana | $56,608 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $57,040 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $62,131 |
| 51 | Georgia | $64,970 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior geologists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior geologists to find work opportunities?
Lysa Chizmadia
Associate Professor, Georgia Southwestern State University
Petrochemical, Industrial, Environmental, Pharmacology. I think the highest concentrations of these fields would be in California, Texas, and New Jersey.
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Updated January 8, 2025