Starting geologists usually have an initial income of $50,000 to $100,000 a year. Over the past 10 years, the average salary of a geologist with 0-2 years of experience has risen significantly from $50,000 to $85,000. The geologists earning a reported average of $83,000 had varying levels of expertise and education, spanning from a B.S. degree to a PhD.

The salaries of geologists may depend on the state of the economic need for natural resources. Therefore, in this time when those are of high importance, there is a mass general movement towards disciplines of science that focus on material and resource production. Also, the general salary of researchers in that class rises significantly.