Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians salary in the U.S.
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $53,350 a year ($25.65 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,980 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,560 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $61,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| 25th percentile | $44,850 | $21.56 |
| Median | $53,350 | $25.65 |
| 75th percentile | $72,110 | $34.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,560 | $47.86 |
| Average (mean) | $61,870 | $29.75 |
Half of geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,445.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,222.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,051.92 |
| Weekly | $1,025.96 |
| Hourly | $25.65 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $102,090 | 30 |
| Indiana | $79,290 | n/a |
| Alaska | $76,090 | 70 |
| Nevada | $73,700 | 260 |
| California | $69,410 | 480 |
| West Virginia | $69,350 | 60 |
| Washington | $63,910 | n/a |
| Nebraska | $63,160 | n/a |
| Wyoming | $63,070 | 90 |
| Tennessee | $63,050 | 110 |
| Colorado | $61,780 | 90 |
| Massachusetts | $61,630 | 40 |
| New Mexico | $59,520 | n/a |
| Virginia | $59,290 | n/a |
| Louisiana | $59,120 | 160 |
| Michigan | $58,860 | 150 |
| New York | $57,150 | 280 |
| Montana | $55,520 | 100 |
| Oregon | $55,090 | 70 |
| Illinois | $53,280 | 80 |
| South Carolina | $53,160 | 90 |
| Kansas | $52,430 | n/a |
| North Dakota | $51,240 | 90 |
| Arizona | $50,160 | n/a |
| Florida | $49,980 | 300 |
| Kentucky | $49,840 | 60 |
| Ohio | $48,890 | 130 |
| North Carolina | $48,090 | 250 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,380 | 240 |
| Arkansas | $47,250 | 30 |
| Oklahoma | $46,890 | 410 |
| Texas | $46,840 | 2,190 |
| Idaho | $46,680 | 70 |
| Alabama | $35,670 | n/a |
| Georgia | $34,710 | 30 |
Best-paying metro areas for geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $82,350 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $72,660 | n/a |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $70,280 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $69,410 | n/a |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $64,420 | n/a |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $62,520 | 60 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $60,910 | 40 |
| Boise City, ID | $60,800 | n/a |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $59,630 | 680 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $59,600 | n/a |
| Reno, NV | $58,920 | 60 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $57,480 | n/a |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $57,150 | 140 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $56,780 | 50 |
| Tulsa, OK | $53,590 | 40 |
Metro areas with the most geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 680 | $59,630 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 240 | $47,710 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 200 | $47,510 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 160 | $49,280 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 140 | $57,150 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 80 | $43,440 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 80 | $47,920 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 80 | $82,350 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 70 | $52,990 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 70 | $37,050 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 60 | $70,280 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 60 | $62,520 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 60 | $51,080 |
| Reno, NV | 60 | $58,920 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 50 | $56,780 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 | $27.65 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 | $29.03 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $55,090 | $26.49 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $61,990 | $29.81 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $54,560 | $26.23 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $72,060 | $34.65 |
| Agricultural Technician | $49,630 | $23.86 |
| Food Science Technician | $52,130 | $25.06 |
| Nuclear Technician | $110,240 | $53.00 |
| Hydrologic Technician | $64,790 | $31.15 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4043. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians make in the U.S.?
The median salary for geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians in the U.S. is $53,350 a year, or $25.65 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians in the U.S. earn at least $99,560 a year. The top 25% earn $72,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,770 a year, and a quarter of geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians earn $44,850 or less.
How many geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians work in the U.S.?
About 6,980 geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.