Best degree programs for Geoscientists, ranked by enrollment
11 college programs and 490 schools train Geoscientists. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $101,920 median wage, 23,470 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
11 college programs at 490 schools train geoscientists, graduating 8,095 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Geology/Earth Science, General. The job pays a median of $101,920 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About geoscientists
Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the Earth's internal composition, atmospheres, and oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
11 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geology/Earth Science, Generalmain feeder CIP 40.0601 | 5,615 | 69.4% | 433 | $39,678 | $24,864 |
| 2 | CIP 40.0699 | 946 | 11.7% | 87 | $39,678 | $24,864 |
| 3 | CIP 30.3201 | 624 | 7.7% | 39 | $27,337 | $22,400 |
| 4 | Oceanography, Chemical and Physicalmain feeder CIP 40.0607 | 534 | 6.6% | 35 | $39,678 | $24,864 |
| 5 | Geophysics and Seismologymain feeder CIP 40.0603 | 169 | 2.1% | 32 | $39,678 | $24,864 |
| 6 | Environmental Geosciencesmain feeder CIP 30.4101 | 90 | 1.1% | 11 | — | — |
| 7 | Earth Systems Sciencemain feeder CIP 30.3801 | 62 | 0.8% | 7 | — | — |
| 8 | Geochemistrymain feeder CIP 40.0602 | 24 | 0.3% | 8 | $39,678 | $24,864 |
| 9 | Paleontologymain feeder CIP 40.0604 | 21 | 0.3% | 5 | $39,678 | $24,864 |
| 10 | Geoarcheaologymain feeder CIP 30.4201 | 8 | 0.1% | 2 | — | — |
| 11 | Geobiologymain feeder CIP 30.4301 | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | — | — |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
What geoscientists earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $106,500 | 3,350 | 1.22× | 79 | 1,163 |
| Texas | $145,220 | 4,900 | 2.31× | 32 | 660 |
| New York | $86,410 | 600 | 0.41× | 36 | 439 |
| Pennsylvania | $84,180 | 910 | 1.00× | 26 | 407 |
| Washington | $105,020 | 840 | 1.57× | 8 | 394 |
| Florida | $95,140 | 660 | 0.44× | 12 | 383 |
| Ohio | $81,220 | 410 | 0.49× | 21 | 296 |
| North Carolina | $95,260 | 570 | 0.76× | 9 | 245 |
| Michigan | $80,990 | 320 | 0.49× | 15 | 206 |
| Mississippi | $112,400 | 250 | 1.41× | 5 | 196 |
| Massachusetts | $108,210 | 420 | 0.77× | 18 | 194 |
| New Hampshiremoderate | $101,150 | — | — | 3 | 190 |
| Colorado | $114,410 | 1,480 | 3.42× | 13 | 177 |
| Maine | $86,840 | 70 | 0.67× | 6 | 167 |
| Georgia | $73,920 | 340 | 0.46× | 9 | 160 |
| Tennessee | $77,870 | 230 | 0.47× | 10 | 159 |
| Illinois | $96,950 | 410 | 0.44× | 11 | 154 |
| Virginia | $88,390 | 300 | 0.48× | 7 | 153 |
| Indiana | $68,240 | 270 | 0.56× | 11 | 130 |
| Utah | $89,990 | 300 | 1.14× | 10 | 130 |
| New Jersey | $88,500 | 300 | 0.47× | 11 | 128 |
| Oregon | $98,110 | 380 | 1.27× | 5 | 127 |
| Connecticut | $61,810 | — | — | 6 | 123 |
| Louisiana | $91,560 | 440 | 1.51× | 5 | 121 |
| Minnesota | $80,540 | 240 | 0.54× | 12 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $78,610 | 110 | 0.25× | 11 | 108 |
| Arizona | $85,190 | 550 | 1.13× | 8 | 105 |
| Missouri | $83,390 | 260 | 0.58× | 7 | 104 |
| Maryland | $110,510 | 390 | 0.93× | 7 | 89 |
| Kentucky | $77,510 | 170 | 0.56× | 6 | 83 |
| South Carolina | $86,070 | 230 | 0.65× | 5 | 82 |
| Rhode Islandlimited | $121,010 | — | — | 2 | 78 |
| Kansas | $80,080 | 190 | 0.87× | 5 | 75 |
| Oklahomamoderate | $119,990 | 770 | 2.99× | 4 | 71 |
| Montanamoderate | $75,520 | 210 | 2.68× | 4 | 69 |
| Alabamamoderate | $88,610 | 110 | 0.34× | 4 | 63 |
| Hawaiimoderate | $106,270 | 110 | 1.14× | 3 | 63 |
| Idaho | $91,170 | 130 | 0.98× | 8 | 58 |
| New Mexico | $88,530 | 160 | 1.24× | 5 | 57 |
| Nevadalimited | $99,890 | 520 | 2.21× | 2 | 57 |
| Arkansasmoderate | $67,880 | 70 | 0.36× | 3 | 51 |
| Alaskalimited | $107,410 | 430 | 8.78× | 2 | 42 |
| Wyominglimited | $74,910 | 220 | 5.13× | 2 | 38 |
| Iowamoderate | $74,460 | 40 | 0.17× | 4 | 36 |
| West Virginiamoderate | $76,060 | 90 | 0.87× | 3 | 33 |
| Vermontmoderate | $87,070 | — | — | 3 | 26 |
| Nebraskalimited | $85,550 | 110 | 0.71× | 2 | 20 |
| South Dakotalimited | $71,150 | 80 | 1.17× | 1 | 14 |
| North Dakotamoderate | $84,070 | 100 | 1.52× | 3 | 13 |
| Delawarelimited | $93,640 | 110 | 1.57× | 1 | 11 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Plan or conduct geological, geochemical, or geophysical field studies or surveys, sample collection, or drilling and testing programs used to collect data for research or application.
- Analyze and interpret geological data, using computer software.
- Investigate the composition, structure, or history of the Earth's crust through the collection, examination, measurement, or classification of soils, minerals, rocks, or fossil remains.
- Analyze and interpret geological, geochemical, or geophysical information from sources, such as survey data, well logs, bore holes, or aerial photos.
- Identify risks for natural disasters, such as mudslides, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions.
- Prepare geological maps, cross-sectional diagrams, charts, or reports concerning mineral extraction, land use, or resource management, using results of fieldwork or laboratory research.
- Communicate geological findings by writing research papers, participating in conferences, or teaching geological science at universities.
- Locate and estimate probable natural gas, oil, or mineral ore deposits or underground water resources, using aerial photographs, charts, or research or survey results.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Science4.0
- Writing3.9
- Active Listening3.9
- Mathematics3.4
- Active Learning3.3
Knowledge areas
- Geography4.0
- Mathematics3.8
- English Language3.8
- Chemistry3.8
- Physics3.6
- Computers and Electronics3.6
Abilities
- Written Comprehension4.1
- Inductive Reasoning4.1
- Oral Comprehension4.0
- Deductive Reasoning4.0
- Category Flexibility4.0
- Oral Expression4.0
Core activities
- Getting Information4.7
- Analyzing Data or Information4.7
- Working with Computers4.4
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.4
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.4
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.3
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Geoscientist
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 12 majors mapped to Geoscientists11 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 30.3201Marine Sciences
- 30.3801Earth Systems Science
- 30.4101Environmental Geosciences
- 30.4201Geoarcheaology
- 30.4301Geobiology
- 40.0601Geology/Earth Science, General
- 40.0602Geochemistry
- 40.0603Geophysics and Seismology
- 40.0604Paleontology
- 40.0606Geochemistry and Petrology(no graduates reported)
- 40.0607Oceanography, Chemical and Physical
- 40.0699Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Geoscientist?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Geology/Earth Science, General, which awarded 5,615 degrees in 2024-25, 69.4% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Geoscientist?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 11 programs to this occupation. The largest are Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Marine Sciences, Environmental Geosciences, Earth Systems Science, plus 2 more. Together they graduate about 8,095 people a year.
How much do geoscientists earn?+
The median is $101,920 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $59,330 at the 10th percentile to $200,230 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for geoscientists growing?+
BLS projects a +3.2% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 2,000 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
490 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 11 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do geoscientists work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Geologist, Geophysicist, Geoscientist, Project Geologist among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 19-2042.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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