The average salary for a geologist in South Dakota is around $71,150 per year.
Avg Salary
Geologists earn an average yearly salary of $71,150.
Wages typically start from $61,290 and go up to $78,560.
11% above national average Updated in 2025
Geologist earnings by seniority
Top-level geologist earnings begin at:
$37.77 per hour
$78,560 per year
Senior-level geologist earnings begin at:
$36.53 per hour
$75,990 per year
Mid-level geologist earnings begin at:
$34.21 per hour
$71,150 per year
Junior-level geologist earnings begin at:
$31.25 per hour
$64,990 per year
Starting level geologist earnings begin at:
$29.47 per hour
$61,290 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Geologist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $99,890 |
| Oregon | $98,110 |
| Illinois | $96,950 |
| North Carolina | $95,260 |
| Florida | $95,140 |
| Delaware | $93,640 |
| Louisiana | $91,560 |
| Idaho | $91,170 |
| Utah | $89,990 |
| Alabama | $88,610 |
| New Mexico | $88,530 |
| New Jersey | $88,500 |
| Virginia | $88,390 |
| Vermont | $87,070 |
| Maine | $86,840 |
| New York | $86,410 |
| South Carolina | $86,070 |
| Nebraska | $85,550 |
| Arizona | $85,190 |
| Pennsylvania | $84,180 |
| North Dakota | $84,070 |
| Missouri | $83,390 |
| Ohio | $81,220 |
| Michigan | $80,990 |
| Minnesota | $80,540 |
| Kansas | $80,080 |
| Wisconsin | $78,610 |
| Tennessee | $77,870 |
| Kentucky | $77,510 |
| West Virginia | $76,060 |
| Montana | $75,520 |
| Puerto Rico | $75,030 |
| Wyoming | $74,910 |
| Iowa | $74,460 |
| Georgia | $73,920 |
| South Dakota | $71,150 |
| Indiana | $68,240 |
| Arkansas | $67,880 |
| Connecticut | $61,810 |
| Texas | $145,220 |
| Rhode Island | $121,010 |
| Oklahoma | $119,990 |
| District of Columbia | $119,790 |
| Colorado | $114,410 |
| Mississippi | $112,400 |
| Maryland | $110,510 |
| Massachusetts | $108,210 |
| Alaska | $107,410 |
| California | $106,500 |
| Hawaii | $106,270 |
| Washington | $105,020 |
| New Hampshire | $101,150 |
How much does a Geologist earn?
Geologists are employed in many sectors, such as environmental consulting companies, oil companies, governmental agencies, engineering firms and nonprofit organizations, as well as colleges and universities. Salaries vary widely among sectors.
The oil sector and the mineral resource sector are both willing to pay handsome salaries to new geologists. However, a large number of geologists choose to work in the environmental and government sectors, and these employers tend to pay 10% to 40% less because they are not in such a demand-driven market. Having said that, employment in the environmental and government sectors is often more stable than the prices of commodities.
Geologists with a Ph.D. can teach geology at colleges and universities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a college professor of geology is $83,140, with the bottom 10 percentile making $42,590 and the top 10 percentile making $152,270. Colleges and universities pay an average of $92,850, while community colleges pay an average of $87,200.
How do geologist salaries compare to similar careers?
Geologists earn about the same as related careers in South Dakota. On average, they make less than chemists but more than forensic science technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Chemist salary | $67K |
| Industrial ecologist salary | $68K |
| Environmental consultant salary | $68K |
| Climate change analyst salary | $68K |
| Environmental restoration planner salary | $68K |
| Geologist salary | $71K |
| Cartographer salary | $73K |
| Forester salary | $64K |
| Biomass plant technician salary | $57K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $52K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)