Geologist Salaries
How much does a Geologist make?
Total pay range
$99K - $171K/yr
$129K/yrMedian total pay
Pay breakdown
$73K - $122K/yrBase pay
$26K - $49K/yrAdditional pay
About our data
Confident
The “Most Likely Range” reflects values within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role. Glassdoor salaries are powered by our proprietary machine learning model, which utilizes salaries collected from our users and the latest government data to make pay predictions.
How accurate is a total pay range of $99K-$171K/yr?
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Popular companies for Geologists
1,127 companies
1,127 Popular companies with Geologist
Viewing 1 - 5 of 1127 Results
Top paying industries
The top 5 paying industries for a Geologist in United States are Energy, Mining & Utilities with a median total pay of $159,219, Manufacturing with a median total pay of $111,782, Information Technology with a median total pay of $110,204, Retail & Wholesale with a median total pay of $103,270, and Aerospace & Defense with a median total pay of $95,415.
Top paying companies in Energy, Mining & Utilities for Geologist are Hess Corporation, ConocoPhillips, and Marathon Oil.
Top paying companies in Manufacturing for Geologist are Exxon Mobil and Lhoist.
The top paying company in Information Technology for Geologist is Parsons Corporation.
The top paying company in Retail & Wholesale for Geologist is ampm.
The top paying company in Aerospace & Defense for Geologist is Leidos.
Energy, Mining & Utilities
$159,219
Energy, Mining & Utilities
Top paying companies in Energy, Mining & Utilities for Geologist are Hess Corporation, ConocoPhillips, and Marathon Oil.
Manufacturing
$111,782
Energy, Mining & Utilities
Top paying companies in Energy, Mining & Utilities for Geologist are Hess Corporation, ConocoPhillips, and Marathon Oil.
Information Technology
$110,204
Energy, Mining & Utilities
Top paying companies in Energy, Mining & Utilities for Geologist are Hess Corporation, ConocoPhillips, and Marathon Oil.
Retail & Wholesale
$103,270
Energy, Mining & Utilities
Top paying companies in Energy, Mining & Utilities for Geologist are Hess Corporation, ConocoPhillips, and Marathon Oil.
Aerospace & Defense
$95,415
Energy, Mining & Utilities
Top paying companies in Energy, Mining & Utilities for Geologist are Hess Corporation, ConocoPhillips, and Marathon Oil.
Recent salaries shared by Geologist
50 salaries
Job Title | Years of Experience
Total Pay
Location
Date submitted
Job Title | Years of Experience
Location
Date submitted
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
Geologist
7-9 years
$207K/yr
$183K • $24K
Houston, TX
submitted on May 29, 2026
$207K/yr
$183K • $24K
Geologist
1-3 years
$47K - $54K/yr
Alpharetta, GA
submitted on May 26, 2026
$47K - $54K/yr
Geologist
1-3 years
$65K/yr
$65K • $0
King of Prussia, PA
submitted on May 26, 2026
$65K/yr
$65K • $0
Geologist
1-3 years
$64K/yr
$64K • $0
Houston, TX
submitted on May 22, 2026
$64K/yr
$64K • $0
Geologist
4-6 years
$89K/yr
$89K • $0
Lincoln, NE
submitted on Apr 18, 2026
$89K/yr
$89K • $0
Anonymously share your salary to help the community.
Geologist
1-3 years
$74K/yr
$74K • $0
Long Beach, CA
submitted on Apr 7, 2026
$74K/yr
$74K • $0
Geologist
4-6 years
$43K/yr
$43K • $0
Fairbanks, AK
submitted on Apr 5, 2026
$43K/yr
$43K • $0
Geologist
15+ years
$225K/yr
$225K • $0
Tyler, TX
submitted on Apr 3, 2026
$225K/yr
$225K • $0
Geologist
1-3 years
$61K - $71K/yr
Lansing, MI
submitted on Apr 2, 2026
$61K - $71K/yr
Geologist
1-3 years
$72K/yr
$72K • $0
Latham, NY
submitted on Mar 14, 2026
$72K/yr
$72K • $0
Viewing 1 - 10 of 50
Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
What is the pay outlook for Research & Science?
Research and science jobs offer pay well above the national average. Increased demand for STEM workers is increasing salaries in research and science. Jobs in these fields, however, often require higher education at the graduate level and/or specialized training. While domain-specific expertise gives workers in these fields access to very specialized jobs, there are also many employers who hire STEM workers for their general data and technology skills.Show more
Frequently asked questions about Geologist salaries
How much does a Geologist in United States make?
The average salary for a Geologist is $129,264 per year or $62 per hour in United States, which is in line with the national average. Top earners have reported making up to $218,443 (90th percentile). However, the typical pay range in United States is between $98,943 (25th percentile) and $171,223 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 2990 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Geologist employees in United States as of June 2026.
What is the highest salary for a Geologist in United States?
The highest salary for a Geologist in United States is $171,223 per year, $14,269 per month or $82 per hour.
What is the lowest salary for a Geologist in United States?
The lowest salary for a Geologist in United States is $98,943 per year, $8,245 per month or $48 per hour.
What is the salary trajectory of a Geologist?
The salary trajectory of a Geologist ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $104,941 per year (estimate) and goes up to $162,260 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
What is the Salary Trend for Geologists?
Pay for geologists ranges and can be similar to pay for anthropologists and archeologists at the lower end, or more similar to civil engineers, environmental engineers, hydrologists, and natural science managers at the higher end. Geoscientists and geologists with higher degrees, such as a master's degree in a related field or a doctorate in geoscience or physics can expect to earn higher pay.
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Do Geologists Make Good Money in United States?
According to anonymous ratings from Glassdoor, 68% of geologists are satisfied with their salary. In addition to salary, geologists can also earn an estimated $34,810.04 in additional pay per year, which could come from benefits, such as bonuses or profit sharing.
How Much Does a Geologist Make Over Time in United States?
The total pay range for geologists is anywhere from $77,844.42 to $218,442.97. If you follow the typical career path for geologists, you may be able to expect an estimated total pay of $129,263.77 once you've gained some years of experience in the field. After reaching that level of expertise, it's common to take on higher-level positions, such as senior or adjunct geologist.
How to Make More Money as a Geologist
There are a few steps you can take in order to boost your earning potential throughout your career as a geologist.
You can enter the geology field with a bachelor's degree and a license as required by the state you're working in, but pursuing a master's degree could help deepen your knowledge and make you more qualified for high-paying positions.
Getting special certifications in your chosen field of geology can also help you stand out. For example, you could become a certified coal geologist, certified petroleum geologist, or certified petroleum geophysicist.
How to Negotiate a Higher Salary as a Geologist
In order to set yourself up for success during salary negotiations, whether you're discussing a raise with a current employer or looking for a new geologist job, it's helpful to look into what others are earning in your area so you have concrete data to back up your expectations.
Next, take stock of your most in-demand skills, like conducting environmental studies and providing reports, planning and supervising field studies, using statistical software, and analyzing data. Be prepared to talk through how you've used those skills throughout your career and how your unique experiences in the field are valuable.