Geoscientist salary
From 448 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 19-2042: Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
At a glance
- Mostly Level I (entry-level). 51% of Geoscientist filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: Oregon State University. 17 filings (4% of the total), median $65,640.
- Median up 9% since FY2020. From $85,140 in FY2020 to $92,394 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Geoscientist H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 448 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Geoscientist jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 19-2042, Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers). The median base salary is $86,229, 30% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $70,000 and $115,080. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 51% of filings. Houston, TX has the most filings (74), and Oregon State University is the employer that files the most (17).
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Geoscientist
Oregon State University17 filings · 4%$65,640
The University of Texas at Austin16 filings · 4%$70,000
BP America14 filings · 3%$142,000
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory12 filings · 3%$118,228
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution12 filings · 3%$86,410
Employers with the most Geoscientist filings. Bar: share of all Geoscientist filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 51% of filings
Mid-level · 27% of filings
Senior · 13% of filings
Expert · 9% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $71,819 | 198 |
| Level II · Qualified | $93,000 | 103 |
| Level III · Experienced | $112,251 | 52 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $148,244 | 34 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Geoscientist pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 9 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | $143,100 | 74 |
| San Francisco, CA | $107,600 | 31 |
| Austin, TX | $70,000 | 25 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $86,880 | 21 |
| Corvallis, OR | $65,640 | 17 |
| Barnstable, MA | $86,410 | 12 |
| Boston, MA | $75,971 | 11 |
| Denver, CO | $101,352 | 11 |
| New York, NY | $78,000 | 11 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Geoscientist does
Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the Earth's internal composition, atmospheres, and oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.
Typical tasks
- Locate and review research articles or environmental, historical, or technical reports.
- Communicate geological findings by writing research papers, participating in conferences, or teaching geological science at universities.
- Plan or conduct geological, geochemical, or geophysical field studies or surveys, sample collection, or drilling and testing programs used to collect data for research or application.
- Prepare geological maps, cross-sectional diagrams, charts, or reports concerning mineral extraction, land use, or resource management, using results of fieldwork or laboratory research.
- Analyze and interpret geological data, using computer software.
- Investigate the composition, structure, or history of the Earth's crust through the collection, examination, measurement, or classification of soils, minerals, rocks, or fossil remains.
Preparation
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
O*NET occupation: Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (19-2042.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers), the median annual wage was $101,920 in May 2025, with 23,470 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $86,229, 15% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $61,864 | $59,330 |
| 25th percentile | $70,000 | $75,110 |
| Median | $86,229 | $101,920 |
| 75th percentile | $115,080 | $139,380 |
| 90th percentile | $161,930 | $200,230 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $61,864 |
| 25th | $70,000 |
| 50th (median) | $86,229 |
| 75th | $115,080 |
| 90th | $161,930 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $85,140 | $63,945 | $129,900 | 328 |
| FY2021 | $90,000 | $66,000 | $126,000 | 233 |
| FY2022 | $83,208 | $65,000 | $120,900 | 231 |
| FY2023 | $85,000 | $69,341 | $113,000 | 253 |
| FY2024 | $85,800 | $70,560 | $120,000 | 249 |
| FY2025 | $83,000 | $68,004 | $108,000 | 253 |
| FY2026 | $92,394 | $71,739 | $123,751 | 195 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Geoscientist make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Geoscientist jobs is $86,229 (448 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $70,000 and $115,080.
What does an entry-level Geoscientist earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $71,819. Level I accounts for 51% of Geoscientist filings.
Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Geoscientists?
Oregon State University (17), The University of Texas at Austin (16) and BP America (14) filed the most Geoscientist LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.
Do H-1B Geoscientists earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($86,229) is 15% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($101,920, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.