Geology Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Geology major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Sciences, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Sciences, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$86,182

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$120,835

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$144,009

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 1.8%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$2,753,622

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Natural Sciences Managers
SOC: 11-9121
Occupation: Natural Sciences Managers
$161,180
100,870
N/A
N/A
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
SOC: 19-2042
Occupation: Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
$99,240
22,510
N/A
N/A
Hydrologists
SOC: 19-2043
Occupation: Hydrologists
$92,060
5,720
N/A
N/A
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
SOC: 19-4043
Occupation: Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
$48,390
9,710
N/A
N/A
Hydrologic Technicians
SOC: 19-4044
Occupation: Hydrologic Technicians
$58,570
2,940
N/A
N/A
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1051
Occupation: Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
$101,390
11,480
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

7.3%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$101,39011,480
2023$100,69011,770
2022$97,77011,150
2021$98,07010,250
2020$94,52011,750

Colleges offering Geology

University of Chicago

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$28k

Earnings

$91k

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$15k

Earnings

$69k

Yale University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$27k

Earnings

$86k

University of Florida

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$12k

Earnings

$63k

Florida Institute of Technology

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$37k

Earnings

$71k