Mining and Geological Engineer salary
From 210 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 17-2151: Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
- Also filed as: Mining Engineer, Geological Engineer
At a glance
- Mostly Level I (entry-level). 38% of Mining and Geological Engineer filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: Freeport Minerals. 19 filings (9% of the total), median $105,000.
- Median up 33% since FY2020. From $79,974 in FY2020 to $106,500 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Mining and Geological Engineer H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 210 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Mining and Geological Engineer jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 17-2151, Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers). The median base salary is $104,595, 15% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $88,200 and $125,450. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 38% of filings. Tucson, AZ has the most filings (21), and Freeport Minerals is the employer that files the most (19).
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Mining and Geological Engineer
Employers with the most Mining and Geological Engineer filings. Bar: share of all Mining and Geological Engineer filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 38% of filings
Mid-level · 25% of filings
Senior · 12% of filings
Expert · 24% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $88,000 | 80 |
| Level II · Qualified | $103,147 | 53 |
| Level III · Experienced | $115,000 | 25 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $140,789 | 50 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Mining and Geological Engineer pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 5 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | $103,800 | 21 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $105,000 | 16 |
| Denver, CO | $123,200 | 13 |
| Elko, NV | $102,000 | 13 |
| Salt Lake, UT | $147,830 | 10 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Mining and Geological Engineer does
Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs.
Typical tasks
- Prepare technical reports for use by mining, engineering, and management personnel.
- Inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
- Select or develop mineral location, extraction, and production methods, based on factors such as safety, cost, and deposit characteristics.
- Select locations and plan underground or surface mining operations, specifying processes, labor usage, and equipment that will result in safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction of minerals and ores.
- Prepare schedules, reports, and estimates of the costs involved in developing and operating mines.
- Monitor mine production rates to assess operational effectiveness.
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: Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers (17-2151.00). 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 (Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers), the median annual wage was $106,220 in May 2025, with 6,080 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $104,595, 2% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $81,126 | $67,490 |
| 25th percentile | $88,200 | $85,280 |
| Median | $104,595 | $106,220 |
| 75th percentile | $125,450 | $136,590 |
| 90th percentile | $146,732 | $169,990 |
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 | $81,126 |
| 25th | $88,200 |
| 50th (median) | $104,595 |
| 75th | $125,450 |
| 90th | $146,732 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $79,974 | $69,176 | $94,340 | 80 |
| FY2021 | $87,566 | $76,896 | $105,975 | 62 |
| FY2022 | $88,026 | $76,054 | $106,000 | 83 |
| FY2023 | $92,040 | $81,117 | $100,422 | 64 |
| FY2024 | $94,930 | $81,903 | $117,505 | 99 |
| FY2025 | $96,512 | $84,414 | $121,007 | 106 |
| FY2026 | $106,500 | $94,931 | $129,625 | 104 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Mining and Geological Engineer make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Mining and Geological Engineer jobs is $104,595 (210 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $88,200 and $125,450.
What does an entry-level Mining and Geological Engineer earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $88,000. Level I accounts for 38% of Mining and Geological Engineer filings.
Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Mining and Geological Engineers?
Freeport Minerals (19), Nevada Gold Mines (15) and Freeport-McMoRan Morenci (14) filed the most Mining and Geological Engineer LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.
Do H-1B Mining and Geological Engineers earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($104,595) is 2% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($106,220, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.