MLA Resources Inc.

2000 Geological Salary Survey

 

YEARS EXPERIENCE

HIGH

AVERAGE

LOW

0-2

$ 76,400

$ 59,700

$ 45,000

3-5

84,300

66,000

56,000

6-9

79,000

74,200

70,000

10-14

127,000

89,400

70,000

15-19

119,000

100,600

85,000

20+

350,000

114,100

68,000

 

It is important to note that this survey is based on employed, salaried geoscientists and cannot account for the large number of unemployed or underemployed individuals. Nor can these numbers take into account the compensation of individuals who are primarily paid in the form of consulting fees, retainers, or overrides. No attempt has been made to include any additional sums to account for employee benefits, bonuses, automobiles or other perquisites. The purpose of this survey is merely to provide a yardstick for those interested in accessing their compensation. The author feels strongly that compensation is often a secondary consideration when evaluating overall job satisfaction.

The 2000 Salary Survey reflects an approximate 7.18% increase in salaries.  Salaries in individual experience categories rose from .8% to 11.4%.  Hiring has begun to accelerate beginning in the fourth quarter of 2000 and continuing strong into 2001. Stable oil prices and rapidly rising gas prices began to show up as increases in exploration budgets by year end.  Over two thirds of the working geoscientists now have over 20 years experience.  Additional incentives beyond salary are now quite common to hire and retain staff.

 

HISTORICAL AVERAGES
AVERAGE SALARY

EXPER

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

0-2

$35,100

$41,900

$42,100

$42,800

$43,200

$42,500

$46,500

$48,400

$51,300

$50,100

$53,600

$ 53,600

3-5

44,000

45,100

50,200

54,300

52,600

53,800

55,200

56,600

57,400

57,000

 61,400 

66,000

6-9

51,000

53,600

55,700

62,100

65,400

63,100

59,600

65,700

69,900

67,500

78,400

74,200

10-14

63,000

65,700

69200

70,500

76,200

69,100

70,500

76,600

78,800

77,100

83,400

89,400

15-19

83,100

81,900

78,000

80,900

82,700

75,300

82,400

84,700

90,200

89,800

94,900

100,600

20+

95,500

92,500

91,900

99,500

95,900

100,700

104,700

99,800

108,500

106,200

106,600

114,100

 

 

AVERAGE SALARY BY DEGREE

YEARS EXPERIENCE B.S. M.S Ph.D.
0-2

$ 52,000

$ 60,000 $ 65,000
3-5

60,000

60,700 72,000
6-9

70,000

79,000 73,500
10-14

82,000

91,000 88,700
15-19

94,000

102,700 106,000
20+

110,400

117,800 99,600