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
$110,559

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$174,803

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$234,921

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 3.2%

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

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$4,422,360

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
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
Natural Sciences Managers
SOC: 11-9121
Occupation: Natural Sciences Managers
$161,180
100,870
N/A
N/A
Hydrologists
SOC: 19-2043
Occupation: Hydrologists
$92,060
5,720
N/A
N/A
Hydrologic Technicians
SOC: 19-4044
Occupation: Hydrologic Technicians
$58,570
2,940
N/A
N/A
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1052
Occupation: Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
$86,220
20,390
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

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

Natural Sciences Managers

16.8%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$161,180100,870
2023$157,74096,520
2022$144,44082,570
2021$137,90074,760
2020$137,94075,870

Hydrologists

9.5%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$92,0605,720
2023$88,7706,150
2022$85,9906,270
2021$84,0306,390
2020$84,0406,170

Hydrologic Technicians

-6.0%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$58,5702,940
2023$55,8903,000
2022$58,3602,920
2021$62,2803,550

Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary

7.2%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$86,22020,390
2023$85,81020,210
2022$80,72020,650
2021$79,41020,260
2020$80,40021,530

Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians

0.2%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$48,3909,710
2023$52,4408,860
2022$48,4909,170
2021$48,3109,210

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

6.0%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$99,24022,510
2023$92,58024,620
2022$87,48025,230
2021$83,68023,620
2020$93,58027,890

Colleges offering Geology

University of Chicago

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$28k

Earnings

$91k

Johns Hopkins University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$23k

Earnings

$96k

George Washington University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$46k

Earnings

$78k

University of Florida

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$12k

Earnings

$63k

University of Southern California

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$42k

Earnings

$78k