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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
If you're considering this career, the geography of pay matters. The national median salary for Geologists in 2026 is $97,767, with entry-level positions averaging $70,392 and senior roles reaching $138,829. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $178,080, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Geologist sits at the intersection of Science and Science & Research. Most professionals enter with Bachelor's in geology, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is field/lab. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$108,360 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Geologist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $178,080 — $108,360 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($69,720). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Geologists average $70,392, the median sits at $97,767, and senior earners pull in $138,829. That $68,437 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $17,400 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
Contrast that with the lowest-paying markets: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $166,320 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $70,280. That $96,040 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
A Geologist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $178,080 — $108,360 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($69,720). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Geologist is $70,392, while senior-level (P90) earners average $138,829. That $68,437 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
At the 90th percentile, Geologists pull in an average of $138,829. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
Even at the 10th percentile, Geologists average $70,392 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $70,392 | $97,767 | $138,829 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £37,987 | £52,760 | £74,919 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$54,068 | CA$75,095 | CA$106,634 |
| Australia | 13 | A$62,038 | A$86,164 | A$122,353 |
| Sweden | 24 | 386,578 kr | 536,913 kr | 762,417 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $84,960 | $117,999 | $167,559 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $82,102 | $114,030 | $161,923 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $81,648 | $113,400 | $161,028 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $75,600 | $105,000 | $149,100 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $74,693 | $103,740 | $147,311 |
| Washington | 8 | $73,256 | $101,745 | $144,478 |
| New York | 5 | $68,947 | $95,760 | $135,979 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $68,947 | $95,760 | $135,979 |
| Florida | 22 | $68,425 | $95,035 | $134,949 |
| Colorado | 11 | $67,243 | $93,393 | $132,618 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $67,133 | $93,240 | $132,401 |
| Nevada | 5 | $67,012 | $93,072 | $132,162 |
| Arizona | 12 | $66,679 | $92,610 | $131,506 |
| Oregon | 5 | $66,528 | $92,400 | $131,208 |
| Idaho | 3 | $66,326 | $92,120 | $130,810 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $65,802 | $91,392 | $129,777 |
| Utah | 4 | $65,621 | $91,140 | $129,419 |
| Virginia | 7 | $64,541 | $89,640 | $127,289 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $63,706 | $88,480 | $125,642 |
| Alaska | 1 | $63,504 | $88,200 | $125,244 |
| Illinois | 5 | $62,778 | $87,192 | $123,813 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $61,219 | $85,027 | $120,738 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $60,480 | $84,000 | $119,280 |
| Montana | 1 | $60,480 | $84,000 | $119,280 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $60,278 | $83,720 | $118,882 |
| Texas | 40 | $59,981 | $83,307 | $118,296 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $59,876 | $83,160 | $118,088 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $59,573 | $82,740 | $117,491 |
| Georgia | 6 | $59,371 | $82,460 | $117,093 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $59,270 | $82,320 | $116,894 |
| Kansas | 4 | $58,968 | $81,900 | $116,298 |
| Michigan | 6 | $58,766 | $81,620 | $115,900 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $58,061 | $80,640 | $114,509 |
| Maryland | 1 | $58,061 | $80,640 | $114,509 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $57,456 | $79,800 | $113,316 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $57,456 | $79,800 | $113,316 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $55,944 | $77,700 | $110,334 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $55,642 | $77,280 | $109,738 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $54,886 | $76,230 | $108,247 |
| Missouri | 4 | $54,886 | $76,230 | $108,247 |
| Alabama | 5 | $54,674 | $75,936 | $107,829 |
| Indiana | 3 | $53,827 | $74,760 | $106,159 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $53,827 | $74,760 | $106,159 |
| Iowa | 2 | $53,222 | $73,920 | $104,966 |
| Ohio | 6 | $53,122 | $73,780 | $104,768 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $50,803 | $70,560 | $100,195 |
Geography shapes Geologist pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $117,999 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($178,080 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $84,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $178,080 | 212 | $84,000 | $104,991 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $166,320 | 198 | $84,000 | $98,517 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $154,560 | 184 | $84,000 | $92,043 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $152,040 | 181 | $84,000 | $90,656 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $149,520 | 178 | $84,000 | $89,268 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $148,680 | 177 | $84,000 | $88,806 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $148,680 | 177 | $84,000 | $88,806 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $145,320 | 173 | $84,000 | $86,956 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $145,320 | 173 | $84,000 | $86,956 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $141,960 | 169 | $84,000 | $85,106 |
The $68,437 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Geologist career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Science & Research sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Geologists is $97,767 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $70,392, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $138,829.
The highest-paying city for Geologists is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $178,080. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($178,080), Santa Clara ($166,320), Irvine ($154,560). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Geologist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $69,720. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Geologists (10th percentile) average $70,392 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $128,218. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Geologists average $138,829 nationally — $68,437 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Geologists can earn up to $252,874.
The top-paying states for Geologists are California ($117,999 median), Massachusetts ($114,030 median), Hawaii ($113,400 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Geologist involves Bachelor's in geology. The field is in the Science & Research sector (Science), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically field/lab.
With a national median of $97,767 and representation across 288 metro areas, Geologist offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $68,437 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.