How much does a geoscientist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $49.00 an hour or $8,493 a month.
- Hourly
- $49.00
- Average (mean)
- $116,200
- Jobs
- 23,470
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,330 | $28.52 | |
| 25th | $75,110 | $36.11 | |
| Median | $101,900 | $49.00 | |
| 75th | $139,400 | $67.01 | |
| 90th | $200,200 | $96.26 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Texas | $145,200 |
| Rhode Island | $121,000 |
| Oklahoma | $120,000 |
| Colorado | $114,400 |
| Mississippi | $112,400 |
| Maryland | $110,500 |
| Massachusetts | $108,200 |
| Alaska | $107,400 |
| California | $106,500 |
| Hawaii | $106,300 |
| Washington | $105,000 |
| New Hampshire | $101,200 |
| Nevada | $99,890 |
| Oregon | $98,110 |
| Illinois | $96,950 |
| North Carolina | $95,260 |
| Florida | $95,140 |
| Delaware | $93,640 |
| Louisiana | $91,560 |
| Idaho | $91,170 |
| Utah | $89,990 |
| Alabama | $88,610 |
| New Mexico | $88,530 |
| New Jersey | $88,500 |
| Virginia | $88,390 |
| Vermont | $87,070 |
| Maine | $86,840 |
| New York | $86,410 |
| South Carolina | $86,070 |
| Nebraska | $85,550 |
| Arizona | $85,190 |
| Pennsylvania | $84,180 |
| North Dakota | $84,070 |
| Missouri | $83,390 |
| Ohio | $81,220 |
| Michigan | $80,990 |
| Minnesota | $80,540 |
| Kansas | $80,080 |
| Wisconsin | $78,610 |
| Tennessee | $77,870 |
| Kentucky | $77,510 |
| West Virginia | $76,060 |
| Montana | $75,520 |
| Wyoming | $74,910 |
| Iowa | $74,460 |
| Georgia | $73,920 |
| South Dakota | $71,150 |
| Indiana | $68,240 |
| Arkansas | $67,880 |
| Connecticut | $61,810 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Midland, TX | $219,100 |
| Houston, TX | $174,500 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $154,400 |
| Lubbock, TX | $140,700 |
| San Jose, CA | $136,100 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $136,100 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $132,800 |
| Dallas, TX | $132,800 |
| Washington, DC | $132,600 |
| Odessa, TX | $129,700 |
| New Orleans, LA | $125,600 |
| San Francisco, CA | $122,300 |
| Gulfport, MS | $122,100 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $121,800 |
| Denver, CO | $120,500 |
In other countries
Geoscientist belongs to the international group "Geologists and geophysicists".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Astronomer$128,800
- Physicist$172,300
- Atmospheric and Space Scientist$99,070
- Chemist$91,240
- Materials Scientist$117,800
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist$82,220
- Hydrologist$96,600
- Physical Scientist$122,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a geoscientist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $49.00 ($101,900 a year).
How much does a geoscientist make a month?
About $8,493 a month before tax, based on a median of $101,900 a year.
How much does a geoscientist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $59,330 or less a year ($28.52 an hour); the top 10% make $200,200 or more.
Which state pays geoscientists the most?
Texas, with a median of $145,200 a year, followed by Rhode Island ($121,000) and Oklahoma ($120,000).
Which city pays geoscientists the most?
Midland, TX, with a median of $219,100 a year.
How many geoscientists are there in the United States?
About 23,470 people work as geoscientists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.