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Geologist Pay Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Geotechnical Engineer - TS/SCI Poly

Reston, VA ยท On-site

$92K - $166K/yr

Apply geological expertise to the collection and interpretation of borehole data, soil assessments ... Pay Range $92,300.00 - $166,850.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline ...

Geotechnical Engineer - TS/SCI Poly

Reston, VA ยท On-site

$92K - $166K/yr

Apply geological expertise to the collection and interpretation of borehole data, soil assessments ... Pay Range $92,300.00 - $166,850.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline ...

Apply geological expertise to the collection and interpretation of borehole data, soil assessments ... Pay Range $92,300.00 - $166,850.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline ...

Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) or Professional Geologist (PG) required; if not currently ... E-7 The expected pay range for this role and location is $90k - $120k/year. The final agreed-upon ...

E.) or Professional Geologist (P.G.) preferred * A professional license is required in each of the ... The expected pay range for this role and location is $75 - $90/year. The final agreed-upon ...

E.) or Professional Geologist (P.G.) preferred * A professional license is required in each of the ... The expected pay range for this role and location is $75 - $90/year. The final agreed-upon ...

Regional Geotechnical Principal

Hanover, MD ยท On-site

$125K - $175K/yr

E.) or Professional Geologist (P.G.) license is required in each of the state(s) in which you work ... E-8+ The expected pay range for this role and location is $125k - $175k/year. The final agreed-upon ...

E.) or Professional Geologist (P.G.) license is required in each of the state(s) in which you work ... E-8+ The expected pay range for this role and location is $125k - $175k/year. The final agreed-upon ...

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Geologist Pay information

What do geologists typically get paid?

Geologists' salaries can vary based on experience, education, industry, and location. In the United States, the median annual wage for geologists and geoscientists was about $83,680 as of May 2022. Entry-level geologists may earn around $50,000 to $60,000 per year, while those with significant experience or advanced degrees can earn over $100,000 annually. Industries such as oil and gas extraction, mining, and environmental consulting often offer higher pay. Geographic location also plays a role, with higher salaries often found in regions with strong natural resource industries.

What are the typical factors that influence salary progression for geologists in the industry?

Salary progression for geologists is influenced by several factors, including years of experience, level of education (such as having a master's or PhD), area of specialization (e.g., petroleum, environmental, mining), and geographic location. Additionally, working for larger organizations or in high-demand sectors can result in higher pay. Professional certifications and a willingness to take on fieldwork or relocate to remote sites can also positively impact earning potential over time.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a geologist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Geologist, you need a solid background in earth sciences, fieldwork experience, and at least a bachelor's degree in geology or a related field. Familiarity with GIS software, geological mapping tools, and sometimes certifications like Professional Geologist (PG) are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help geologists excel in both research and team-based projects. These skills are crucial for accurately interpreting data, ensuring safety, and delivering reliable results for environmental, resource, or engineering projects.

What is the difference between Geologist Pay vs Hydrogeologist Pay?

AspectGeologistHydrogeologist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in geology, often with certificationsBachelor's or higher in geology, hydrogeology, or environmental science, often with certifications
Work EnvironmentMining, oil & gas, environmental consulting, researchWater resource management, environmental consulting, government agencies
Employer & Industry UsageMining companies, oil & gas firms, environmental firmsWater agencies, environmental consultancies, government agencies

Geologists and hydrogeologists share similar educational backgrounds and work environments, but geologists focus more broadly on earth materials and processes, while hydrogeologists specialize in groundwater. Their pay varies based on industry, experience, and location, with both roles offering competitive salaries in their respective fields.

Infographic showing various Geologist Pay job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% Hybrid job distribution.

$61K/yr

Full-time, Part-time

This job post hasย expired 1 day ago.ย Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

You will serve as a Geologist (Map Editor) for the Science Publishing Network.
Pay will vary based on grade level and/or duty location for which you're selected. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.
This announcement is only open to the first 100 applicants. Once the application limit has been reached, the announcement will automatically close at 11:59 pm EST on the day the limit is reached, regardless of the established closing date.

Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/03/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine the number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.
Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Basic Educational Requirement AND/OR Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following:

  • A. Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in geology. In addition to the geology course work included in the degree, it must also have included or been supplemented by 20 additional semester hours in any combination of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological science, structural, chemical, civil, mining or petroleum engineering, computer science, planetary geology, comparative planetology, geophysics, meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, physical geography, marine geology, and cartography. You must submit transcripts.
-OR-
  • B. Combination of education and experience: combination of education and experience which includes 24 semester hours or equivalent in geology plus 20 additional semester hours or equivalent in a combination of courses specified in choice 1, plus appropriate experience and/or additional education totaling 4 years.

-AND-

To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level:
  • Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience must include: assisting higher-level geologists in carrying out geologic assignments, compiling information and data onto geologic maps, writing up the results of the assignments, fact-checking, and ensuring that the written report matches the data and information collected. Additional examples of such experience may include copyediting geologic reports from other geologists into a larger compilation report; editing a regular newsletter, journal, or other professional communication product for public dissemination; or reviewing and editing other people's maps and text as part of preparing these products for publication. This work experience would have involved reviewing submitted work for technical mistakes not only in the geology, but also grammar, spelling, and punctuation; using some judgment in applying editorial style and consistency across multiple products from different authors; and would have required a good working knowledge of the principles of writing and editing, including sentence structure, overall organization and clarity, and editorial style.. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
  • Education: Successful completion of at least 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in the fields described in the question above. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
  • Combination of education and experience: A combination of successfully completed higher level graduate education and specialized experience to meet the total qualification requirements for the grade level specified above. You must include hours per week and transcripts.
Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.Education:

This position has a mandatory education requirement.
You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification

Employment Type: OTHER