Prevailing Wage for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
Prevailing wages for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers are set by the DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, covering roles from Exploration Geologist to Geophysicist and Environmental Protection Geologist. DOL assigns four experience levels, and the wage floor shifts substantially by worksite city, so the same offer can clear the threshold in one metro but fall short in another.
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Entry-level geoscientists with limited professional experience, typically recent degree holders who work under close supervision on assigned tasks with little independent judgment. DOL treats Level 1 as the starting point for candidates new to the occupation.
Qualified geoscientists with a few years of field or lab experience who handle standard assignments with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers, reflecting the typical early-career hire with applied project experience.
Experienced geoscientists who work independently, lead technical components of projects, and may supervise junior staff. DOL associates Level 3 with specialized expertise and a track record of delivering results without routine oversight.
Senior or lead geoscientists who set technical direction, manage teams or major projects, and are recognized as subject-matter experts. Level 4 corresponds to principal, staff, or chief scientist roles with organization-wide scope and minimal supervision.
Prevailing Wage for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch the SOC when oil and gas employers file
Energy companies sometimes file LCAs for geoscientists under petroleum engineering SOC codes rather than SOC 19-2042. If the LCA uses the wrong SOC, the prevailing wage floor applied may not match the actual geoscientist occupation, leaving your offer unprotected by the correct threshold.
Account for Houston and Midland wage gaps
Prevailing wage floors for geoscientists in Houston and Midland run significantly above the national median at every level, reflecting dense oil and gas employer concentration. An offer negotiated against national figures can fall well below the legally required floor for those worksites.
Exclude signing bonuses from your wage floor check
DOL requires the prevailing wage to be met through the base salary alone for LCA compliance. Signing bonuses, relocation allowances, and performance bonuses paid at employer discretion do not count toward the floor, a common gap in offers from exploration and environmental consulting firms.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with geoscientist sponsorship history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored geoscientist and geophysicist roles in the past, so you can focus on companies already familiar with LCA filing for SOC 19-2042 rather than educating a first-time sponsor during your job search.
Jobs for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 19-2042.00 alongside Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Engineering Geologist Prevailing Wage
Engineering Geologist Prevailing Wage
Engineering Geologist positions fall under SOC 19-2042.00 (Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Environmental Protection Geologist Prevailing Wage
Environmental Protection Geologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Environmental Protection Geologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-2042.00 (Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Exploration Geologist Prevailing Wage
Exploration Geologist Prevailing Wage
Exploration Geologist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-2042.00 (Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Geological Specialist Prevailing Wage
Geological Specialist Prevailing Wage
Geological Specialist positions fall under SOC 19-2042.00 (Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Geologist Prevailing Wage
Geologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Geologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-2042.00 (Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Geophysicist Prevailing Wage
Geophysicist Prevailing Wage
Geophysicist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-2042.00 (Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Geoscientist Prevailing Wage
Geoscientist Prevailing Wage
Geoscientist positions fall under SOC 19-2042.00 (Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Mine Geologist Prevailing Wage
Mine Geologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Mine Geologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-2042.00 (Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Project Geologist Prevailing Wage
Project Geologist Prevailing Wage
Project Geologist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-2042.00 (Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for this occupation using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from employer surveys across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. OFLC then maps those regional figures to four wage levels based on experience and assigns the result to SOC 19-2042. Employers must certify on the LCA that the offered salary meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to me?
DOL defines Level 1 as entry-level work under close supervision, Level 2 as qualified work with moderate supervision, Level 3 as experienced independent work often involving team leadership, and Level 4 as fully competent senior or principal roles. Your level is determined by the actual duties and supervision structure of the position, not your personal experience alone. USCIS and OFLC both expect the LCA level to reflect the job requirements, not the candidate's background.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same geoscientist role vary so much from city to city?
OFLC assigns prevailing wages by worksite metropolitan area using regional BLS survey data, so local labor market conditions drive the figure. Houston and Midland carry much higher floors than Tallahassee or Topeka because of dense oil and gas employer concentration that inflates regional wage norms. The LCA must use the wage for the actual work location, not a company headquarters elsewhere, so a multi-site employer cannot use a lower-wage area's figure for a geoscientist working in a high-wage market.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored geoscientist position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA if the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the worksite and level. OFLC will reject a certification where the wage is deficient, blocking the H-1B or PERM process. If a certified LCA later shows a wage shortfall, DOL can investigate and require back pay. Candidates should verify the offered base salary against the applicable OFLC prevailing wage before countersigning an offer, since renegotiating after LCA certification is administratively complex.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a geoscientist role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 19-2042 in the metropolitan area of your worksite. Enter the occupation code and the relevant area to see the four wage levels. Cross-check against recent LCA disclosure data, which OFLC publishes quarterly, to see what wages employers have actually certified for geoscientist titles in that market. Migrate Mate also shows which employers have sponsored the role, helping you identify companies where sponsorship processes are already established.
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