Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

19-2042 Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the Earth’s internal composition, atmospheres, and oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.


National estimates for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
Industry profile for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
Geographic profile for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

National estimates for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
25,230 2.8 % $ 50.27 $ 104,560 1.3 %

Percentile wage estimates for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 23.63 $ 30.18 $ 42.06 $ 63.28 $ 83.47
Annual Wage (2) $ 49,150 $ 62,770 $ 87,480 $ 131,610 $ 173,620


Industry profile for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 7,180 0.45 $ 47.74 $ 99,300
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 4,870 0.28 $ 43.51 $ 90,490
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 2,190 0.10 $ 52.39 $ 108,970
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 2,110 0.10 $ 39.91 $ 83,010
Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,900 0.07 $ 87.65 $ 182,310

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Oil and Gas Extraction 1,700 1.67 $ 70.03 $ 145,660
Metal Ore Mining 470 1.10 $ 48.28 $ 100,420
Support Activities for Mining 1,430 0.58 $ 39.78 $ 82,740
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 7,180 0.45 $ 47.74 $ 99,300
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 4,870 0.28 $ 43.51 $ 90,490

Top paying industries for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,900 0.07 $ 87.65 $ 182,310
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 90 0.09 $ 83.83 $ 174,370
Oil and Gas Extraction 1,700 1.67 $ 70.03 $ 145,660
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 80 0.01 $ 65.25 $ 135,710
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 40 (7) $ 64.55 $ 134,270


Geographic profile for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 5,440 0.42 2.45 $ 70.00 $ 145,600
California 3,570 0.20 1.19 $ 47.33 $ 98,440
Colorado 2,260 0.82 4.78 $ 57.02 $ 118,600
Washington 900 0.26 1.55 $ 48.72 $ 101,340
New York 780 0.09 0.50 $ 40.57 $ 84,380


Map of location quotient of geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska 430 1.42 8.32 $ 52.84 $ 109,920
Colorado 2,260 0.82 4.78 $ 57.02 $ 118,600
Wyoming 190 0.70 4.12 $ 38.06 $ 79,170
Montana 210 0.44 2.56 $ 38.70 $ 80,500
Texas 5,440 0.42 2.45 $ 70.00 $ 145,600


Map of annual mean wages of geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 5,440 0.42 2.45 $ 70.00 $ 145,600
District of Columbia 40 0.06 0.37 $ 64.40 $ 133,950
Oklahoma 600 0.37 2.19 $ 63.36 $ 131,800
Colorado 2,260 0.82 4.78 $ 57.02 $ 118,600
Alaska 430 1.42 8.32 $ 52.84 $ 109,920



Map of employment of geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 2,600 0.85 5.00 $ 83.13 $ 172,910
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 1,920 1.24 7.26 $ 58.51 $ 121,700
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 740 0.12 0.71 $ 46.43 $ 96,580
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 730 0.19 1.13 $ 65.31 $ 135,840
Austin-Round Rock, TX 680 0.58 3.39 $ 56.08 $ 116,640
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 620 0.30 1.78 $ 50.51 $ 105,060
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 620 0.07 0.39 $ 40.96 $ 85,190
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 510 0.17 0.98 $ 50.18 $ 104,370
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 440 0.42 2.48 $ 51.33 $ 106,760
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 400 0.25 1.44 $ 38.15 $ 79,350


Map of location quotient of geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Midland, TX 240 2.27 13.28 $ 68.18 $ 141,820
Fairbanks, AK 70 2.13 12.49 $ 45.46 $ 94,570
Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS 250 1.66 9.74 $ 45.45 $ 94,530
Anchorage, AK 240 1.45 8.52 $ 49.82 $ 103,620
Cheyenne, WY 60 1.39 8.14 $ 35.13 $ 73,060
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 1,920 1.24 7.26 $ 58.51 $ 121,700
Casper, WY 30 0.92 5.37 $ 42.88 $ 89,180
Corvallis, OR 30 0.92 5.37 $ 45.03 $ 93,670
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 2,600 0.85 5.00 $ 83.13 $ 172,910
Longview, TX 70 0.78 4.55 $ 39.66 $ 82,480


Map of annual mean wages of geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 2,600 0.85 5.00 $ 83.13 $ 172,910
Midland, TX 240 2.27 13.28 $ 68.18 $ 141,820
Oklahoma City, OK 250 0.40 2.36 $ 68.15 $ 141,740
Odessa, TX (8) (8) (8) $ 67.70 $ 140,810
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 730 0.19 1.13 $ 65.31 $ 135,840
Greeley, CO 30 0.31 1.84 $ 64.83 $ 134,850
Corpus Christi, TX 80 0.46 2.70 $ 63.71 $ 132,520
Tulsa, OK 260 0.61 3.56 $ 62.27 $ 129,530
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL 40 0.17 1.00 $ 61.45 $ 127,820
Barnstable Town, MA 30 0.33 1.92 $ 59.06 $ 122,840

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nevada nonmetropolitan area 220 2.18 12.77 $ 50.45 $ 104,930
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 110 1.12 6.55 $ 64.29 $ 133,710
East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area 70 1.14 6.70 $ 40.71 $ 84,670
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 70 0.17 1.02 $ 44.95 $ 93,500
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 60 0.44 2.58 $ 39.89 $ 82,960

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nevada nonmetropolitan area 220 2.18 12.77 $ 50.45 $ 104,930
East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area 70 1.14 6.70 $ 40.71 $ 84,670
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 110 1.12 6.55 $ 64.29 $ 133,710
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 40 0.58 3.37 $ 35.49 $ 73,830
Arizona nonmetropolitan area 50 0.53 3.10 $ 41.31 $ 85,930

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 110 1.12 6.55 $ 64.29 $ 133,710
North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 60 0.23 1.32 $ 58.98 $ 122,680
West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 53.81 $ 111,920
Eastern Utah nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 50.71 $ 105,470
Nevada nonmetropolitan area 220 2.18 12.77 $ 50.45 $ 104,930


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023