SOC 19-4043 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians — Texas
Texas · 10 metro areas compared
In Texas the median wage is $46,840.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Texas the median wage is $46,840. That is 12.2% lower than the national median of $53,350. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $39,300 and $63,230. The lowest tenth earn under $29,790, while the highest tenth earn more than $104,420.
The area has 2,190 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 3.47 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 35 states with published data for this occupation, Texas ranks 32nd by median wage. Houston leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $59,630. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 524th of 794 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,790 | −44.2% |
| 25th | $39,300 | −26.3% |
| Median (50th) | $46,840 | −12.2% |
| 75th | $63,230 | +18.5% |
| 90th | $104,420 | +95.7% |
| Mean | $58,500 | +9.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston | $59,630 | 680 | |
| 2 | Austin | $51,460 | — | |
| 3 | College Station | $49,740 | 30 | |
| 4 | San Antonio | $49,280 | 160 | |
| 5 | Dallas | $47,710 | 240 | |
| 6 | Beaumont | $46,410 | 30 | |
| 7 | Waco | $41,310 | 40 | |
| 8 | Tyler | $40,130 | — | |
| 9 | Corpus Christi | $37,050 | 70 | |
| 10 | Odessa | $31,950 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Texas run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $46,840 goes as far as $48,239 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$48,239US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,840 a year, 12.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $29,790 to $104,420 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,190 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 32nd of 35 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Houston, at $59,630.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians in Texas?
The median annual wage is $46,840, or $22.52 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $53,350, so pay in Texas is 12.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Texas earns more than $104,420 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $29,790 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Houston, at $59,630 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,190 jobs in this occupation in Texas. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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