Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians (SOC 19-4043) earn a median $53,350 a year ($25.65 an hour) in the United States, with 6,980 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Maryland.
What geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians do
Geological technicians support geologists, engineers, and other scientists by operating electronic, sonic, and nuclear measuring instruments in the laboratory and the field to gather data on resources such as metallic ore, minerals, gas, coal, and petroleum. Typical tasks include collecting and preparing solid or fluid samples for analysis, testing and analyzing samples in the laboratory to find their content and characteristics, and compiling, logging, and recording testing or operating data for review. They also prepare notes, sketches, geological maps, and cross-sectional diagrams that scientists use, and some analyze drilling mud and drill cuttings. The occupation excludes hydrologic technicians, who gather data on groundwater and surface water, and it differs from geoscientists, who plan the work and interpret results, and from surveying and mapping technicians. Participation in geological, geophysical, geochemical, hydrographic, or oceanographic surveys and prospecting is also part of the job, as are adjusting or repairing testing equipment and preparing or reviewing reports on sampling and testing.
Also called: Acid Tester, Chalk Tester, Construction Material Technician, Core Inspector, Crude Tester.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.20 | $21.56 | $25.65 | $34.67 | $47.86 | $29.75 | 6,980 |
| Annual | $35,770 | $44,850 | $53,350 | $72,110 | $99,560 | $61,870 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $34.00 | $40.41 | $49.08 | $49.08 | $85.40 | $50.47 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.27 |
| Annual | $70,720 | $84,040 | $102,090 | $102,090 | $177,630 | $104,970 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $18.61 | $35.79 | $38.12 | $41.33 | $63.56 | $37.85 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $38,710 | $74,450 | $79,290 | $85,960 | $132,210 | $78,720 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $27.51 | $27.53 | $36.58 | $62.40 | $146.08 | $55.78 | 70 | 0.22 | 4.90 |
| Annual | $57,230 | $57,260 | $76,090 | $129,790 | $303,850 | $116,020 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $23.50 | $29.68 | $35.43 | $40.58 | $45.51 | $36.14 | 260 | 0.17 | 3.79 |
| Annual | $48,880 | $61,740 | $73,700 | $84,410 | $94,670 | $75,170 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $21.78 | $25.77 | $33.37 | $40.13 | $79.17 | $39.93 | 480 | 0.03 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $45,300 | $53,610 | $69,410 | $83,470 | $164,670 | $83,050 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $14.32 | $18.89 | $22.52 | $30.40 | $50.20 | $28.13 | 2,190 | 0.16 | 3.47 |
| Annual | $29,790 | $39,300 | $46,840 | $63,230 | $104,420 | $58,500 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $21.78 | $25.77 | $33.37 | $40.13 | $79.17 | $39.93 | 480 | 0.03 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $45,300 | $53,610 | $69,410 | $83,470 | $164,670 | $83,050 | ||||
| Oklahoma | Hourly | $16.90 | $19.55 | $22.54 | $31.69 | $45.66 | $26.81 | 410 | 0.24 | 5.28 |
| Annual | $35,150 | $40,670 | $46,890 | $65,920 | $94,980 | $55,760 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.06 | $19.07 | $24.03 | $30.81 | $35.74 | $26.00 | 300 | 0.03 | 0.67 |
| Annual | $37,560 | $39,660 | $49,980 | $64,090 | $74,340 | $54,070 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $21.23 | $22.76 | $27.48 | $31.98 | $36.14 | $28.53 | 280 | 0.03 | 0.65 |
| Annual | $44,160 | $47,340 | $57,150 | $66,520 | $75,160 | $59,330 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | $21.78 | $32.77 | $39.59 | $67.51 | $86.82 | $52.51 | 80 | 0.05 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $45,300 | $68,160 | $82,350 | $140,420 | $180,580 | $109,230 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $21.74 | $25.24 | $34.93 | $47.87 | $60.32 | $37.93 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $45,210 | $52,490 | $72,660 | $99,580 | $125,470 | $78,890 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $23.86 | $23.86 | $33.79 | $67.81 | $72.40 | $42.48 | 60 | 0.04 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $49,630 | $49,630 | $70,280 | $141,040 | $150,580 | $88,350 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $26.49 | $27.81 | $33.37 | $54.44 | $73.36 | $44.32 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $55,090 | $57,840 | $69,410 | $113,240 | $152,600 | $92,180 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $20.65 | $21.04 | $30.97 | $41.33 | $41.33 | $30.95 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $42,950 | $43,760 | $64,420 | $85,960 | $85,960 | $64,370 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $19.19 | $22.24 | $28.67 | $48.93 | $61.48 | $34.40 | 680 | 0.21 | 4.61 |
| Annual | $39,910 | $46,260 | $59,630 | $101,780 | $127,870 | $71,550 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $15.59 | $21.02 | $22.94 | $39.16 | $52.36 | $29.48 | 240 | 0.06 | 1.33 |
| Annual | $32,420 | $43,720 | $47,710 | $81,460 | $108,900 | $61,320 | ||||
| Oklahoma City, OK | Hourly | $18.12 | $20.02 | $22.84 | $24.98 | $49.90 | $27.51 | 200 | 0.30 | 6.68 |
| Annual | $37,690 | $41,650 | $47,510 | $51,970 | $103,790 | $57,230 | ||||
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | Hourly | $18.89 | $18.89 | $23.69 | $30.10 | $48.08 | $27.36 | 160 | 0.14 | 3.21 |
| Annual | $39,300 | $39,300 | $49,280 | $62,600 | $100,000 | $56,900 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $21.33 | $25.78 | $27.48 | $34.54 | $35.16 | $29.65 | 140 | 0.02 | 0.32 |
| Annual | $44,360 | $53,620 | $57,150 | $71,850 | $73,130 | $61,670 | ||||
Top industries employing geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services employ 44.1% of geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians nationally (3,080 jobs) at a median $50,290 a year ($24.18 an hour), followed by Support Activities for Mining (19.9%) and Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 3,080 | 44.1% | $50,290 | $24.18 |
| Support Activities for Mining NAICS 213100 | 1,390 | 19.9% | $45,750 | $22.00 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 400 | 5.7% | $59,100 | $28.41 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction NAICS 211100 | 390 | 5.6% | $101,840 | $48.96 |
| Metal Ore Mining NAICS 212200 | 360 | 5.2% | $64,390 | $30.96 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (6,980). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $48,310 for geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians in May 2021 and $53,350 in May 2025, with employment of 9,210 and 6,980.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $48,310 | $23.23 | 9,210 |
| May 2022 | $48,490 | $23.31 | 9,170 |
| May 2023 | $52,440 | $25.21 | 8,860 |
| May 2024 | $48,390 | $23.27 | 9,710 |
| May 2025 | $53,350 | $25.65 | 6,980 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
35 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland profile | $49.08 | $102,090 | $70,720 | $177,630 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.27 |
| 2 | Indiana profile | $38.12 | $79,290 | $38,710 | $132,210 | ** | ** | ** |
| 3 | Alaska profile | $36.58 | $76,090 | $57,230 | $303,850 | 70 | 0.22 | 4.90 |
| 4 | Nevada profile | $35.43 | $73,700 | $48,880 | $94,670 | 260 | 0.17 | 3.79 |
| 5 | California profile | $33.37 | $69,410 | $45,300 | $164,670 | 480 | 0.03 | 0.59 |
| 6 | West Virginia profile | $33.34 | $69,350 | $44,720 | $87,530 | 60 | 0.09 | 2.02 |
| 7 | Washington profile | $30.73 | $63,910 | $51,820 | $78,070 | ** | ** | ** |
| 8 | Nebraska profile | $30.37 | $63,160 | $50,290 | $85,140 | ** | ** | ** |
| 9 | Wyoming profile | $30.32 | $63,070 | $44,070 | $103,860 | 90 | 0.31 | 6.83 |
| 10 | Tennessee profile | $30.31 | $63,050 | $42,760 | $76,110 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.75 |
| 11 | Colorado profile | $29.70 | $61,780 | $49,630 | $144,930 | 90 | 0.03 | 0.71 |
| 12 | Massachusetts profile | $29.63 | $61,630 | $51,660 | $98,140 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.23 |
| 13 | New Mexico profile | $28.62 | $59,520 | $28,540 | $81,370 | ** | ** | ** |
| 14 | Virginia profile | $28.50 | $59,290 | $54,030 | $93,990 | ** | ** | ** |
| 15 | Louisiana profile | $28.42 | $59,120 | $46,350 | $119,800 | 160 | 0.08 | 1.79 |
| 16 | Michigan profile | $28.30 | $58,860 | $34,330 | $92,230 | 150 | 0.03 | 0.74 |
| 17 | New York profile | $27.48 | $57,150 | $44,160 | $75,160 | 280 | 0.03 | 0.65 |
| 18 | Montana profile | $26.69 | $55,520 | $43,000 | $83,400 | 100 | 0.20 | 4.46 |
| 19 | Oregon profile | $26.49 | $55,090 | $47,880 | $75,120 | 70 | 0.03 | 0.74 |
| 20 | Illinois profile | $25.62 | $53,280 | $39,810 | $75,230 | 80 | 0.01 | 0.29 |
| 21 | South Carolina profile | $25.56 | $53,160 | $43,910 | $73,960 | 90 | 0.04 | 0.82 |
| 22 | Kansas profile | $25.21 | $52,430 | $42,380 | $80,680 | ** | ** | ** |
| 23 | North Dakota profile | $24.64 | $51,240 | $50,480 | $83,130 | 90 | 0.20 | 4.49 |
| 24 | Arizona profile | $24.11 | $50,160 | $39,730 | $78,910 | ** | ** | ** |
| 25 | Florida profile | $24.03 | $49,980 | $37,560 | $74,340 | 300 | 0.03 | 0.67 |
| 26 | Kentucky profile | $23.96 | $49,840 | $42,980 | $77,210 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.68 |
| 27 | Ohio profile | $23.51 | $48,890 | $37,440 | $107,440 | 130 | 0.02 | 0.53 |
| 28 | North Carolina profile | $23.12 | $48,090 | $37,680 | $59,010 | 250 | 0.05 | 1.15 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania profile | $22.78 | $47,380 | $32,200 | $66,770 | 240 | 0.04 | 0.87 |
| 30 | Arkansas profile | $22.72 | $47,250 | $39,300 | $64,290 | 30 | 0.03 | 0.58 |
| 31 | Oklahoma profile | $22.54 | $46,890 | $35,150 | $94,980 | 410 | 0.24 | 5.28 |
| 32 | Texas profile | $22.52 | $46,840 | $29,790 | $104,420 | 2,190 | 0.16 | 3.47 |
| 33 | Idaho profile | $22.44 | $46,680 | $40,900 | $79,470 | 70 | 0.08 | 1.80 |
| 34 | Alabama profile | $17.15 | $35,670 | $29,270 | $49,000 | ** | ** | ** |
| 35 | Georgia profile | $16.69 | $34,710 | $34,710 | $104,150 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.14 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (19-4040), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 19-4043 Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 19-4043, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 19-4043.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.