What is the salary of a Geological Technician?

The typical salary range is $33,873 - $67,746 per year.

Research & DevelopmentStable

Geological Technician

Mid-level

Also known as: Acid Tester, Chalk Tester, Construction Material Technician, Construction Materials Field Technician (Construction Materials Field Tech)

Research & DevelopmentBachelor's Degree

Job Description

Assist scientists or engineers in the use of electronic, sonic, or nuclear measuring instruments in laboratory, exploration, and production activities to obtain data indicating resources such as metallic ore, minerals, gas, coal, or petroleum. Analyze mud and drill cuttings. Chart pressure, temperature, and other characteristics of wells or bore holes.

GeologyGeoscienceMineral ExplorationPetroleum GeologyGeophysicsEngineeringScienceData AnalysisAnalysisResearch

Skills employers are looking for in 2027

Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.

Hot technologies

Adobe Illustrator Autodesk AutoCAD ESRI ArcGIS software Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word SAP software

In-demand software

Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Outlook

Job Outlook 2025-2035

Projected growth

+3.6%

US average: +3.5%

Job openings

1,000

per year (US)

Jobs today

7,300

in 2025 → 7,600 (2035)

Typical entry education

Associate's degree

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

Work Environment

How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.

Email & digital communication

High

Working in a team

High

Contact with others

Moderate

Freedom to make decisions

High

Time pressure

Moderate

Time spent sitting

Moderate

Working outdoors

Moderate

Indoor, climate-controlled

High

Dealing with customers

Moderate

Level of competition

Moderate

Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)

Future Perspective

Stable Job Market

This field maintains steady employment levels with consistent demand. Job opportunities remain available with moderate competition.

Career ladder

Often before this role

Lab Assistant
Field Sampler
Environmental Technician

Geological Technician

Where it can lead

Geologist
Geophysicist
Senior Geological Technician

Impact of AI on this Job

AI will significantly impact geological technicians by automating data analysis from various sensors, improving predictive modeling for resource identification, and enhancing the efficiency of mapping and sample classification. This shift will allow technicians to focus more on interpreting complex results, overseeing AI-driven systems, and engaging in advanced problem-solving rather than manual data collection and basic processing.

Salary

$53,350

Median annual wage, BLS 2025

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum educational requirement for this position