Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

19-4041 Geological and Petroleum Technicians

Assist scientists or engineers in the use of electronic, sonic, or nuclear measuring instruments in both laboratory and production activities to obtain data indicating potential resources such as metallic ore, minerals, gas, coal, or petroleum. Analyze mud and drill cuttings. Chart pressure, temperature, and other characteristics of wells or bore holes. Investigate and collect information leading to the possible discovery of new metallic ore, minerals, gas, coal, or petroleum deposits.


National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
14,680 5.9 % $27.81 $57,840 3.0 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $13.75 $17.44 $23.89 $35.33 $44.75
Annual Wage (2) $28,600 $36,280 $49,690 $73,490 $93,080


Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Support Activities for Mining 4,410 1.38 $24.78 $51,540
Oil and Gas Extraction 2,790 1.71 $30.67 $63,780
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 2,540 0.20 $22.84 $47,500
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 1,030 0.93 $45.35 $94,330
Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers 960 0.79 $30.38 $63,200

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Oil and Gas Extraction 2,790 1.71 $30.67 $63,780
Support Activities for Mining 4,410 1.38 $24.78 $51,540
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 1,030 0.93 $45.35 $94,330
Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers 960 0.79 $30.38 $63,200
Other Pipeline Transportation 40 0.65 $30.08 $62,560

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 1,030 0.93 $45.35 $94,330
Employment Services 80 (7) $41.94 $87,240
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 160 0.04 $34.29 $71,330
Management of Companies and Enterprises 360 0.02 $33.10 $68,850
Basic Chemical Manufacturing 70 0.05 $32.75 $68,110


Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 5,750 0.56 4.88 $25.87 $53,820
California 1,870 0.13 1.16 $37.30 $77,590
Louisiana 1,480 0.80 7.03 $29.69 $61,750
Oklahoma 640 0.43 3.74 $25.44 $52,920
Colorado 480 0.22 1.91 $28.61 $59,520




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Wyoming 240 0.89 7.81 $27.55 $57,310
Louisiana 1,480 0.80 7.03 $29.69 $61,750
Montana 240 0.57 5.01 $23.31 $48,470
Texas 5,750 0.56 4.88 $25.87 $53,820
Alaska 180 0.56 4.93 $32.36 $67,310




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nevada 100 0.09 0.78 $38.53 $80,150
California 1,870 0.13 1.16 $37.30 $77,590
Alaska 180 0.56 4.93 $32.36 $67,310
New York 450 0.05 0.46 $31.50 $65,520
Indiana (8) (8) (8) $30.35 $63,120





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 2,760 1.08 9.45 $27.15 $56,470
Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division 1,110 1.17 10.23 $40.28 $83,780
Lafayette, LA 500 3.46 30.21 $28.59 $59,460
Midland, TX 370 5.27 46.05 $22.11 $45,990
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA 360 0.71 6.21 $30.15 $62,720
Oklahoma City, OK 340 0.60 5.28 $24.06 $50,040
Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Division 320 0.38 3.32 $27.32 $56,820
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 320 0.16 1.38 $29.86 $62,110
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX 290 0.37 3.22 $18.70 $38,890
Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO 280 0.23 2.04 $31.71 $65,970




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Midland, TX 370 5.27 46.05 $22.11 $45,990
Lafayette, LA 500 3.46 30.21 $28.59 $59,460
Pascagoula, MS 150 2.68 23.43 $32.76 $68,130
Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division 1,110 1.17 10.23 $40.28 $83,780
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 2,760 1.08 9.45 $27.15 $56,470
Casper, WY 40 0.97 8.49 $25.32 $52,670
Bakersfield-Delano, CA 210 0.80 7.03 $34.54 $71,830
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA 360 0.71 6.21 $30.15 $62,720
College Station-Bryan, TX 60 0.62 5.41 $21.22 $44,140
Oklahoma City, OK 340 0.60 5.28 $24.06 $50,040




Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division (8) (8) (8) $44.39 $92,330
Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division 1,110 1.17 10.23 $40.28 $83,780
Nassau-Suffolk, NY Metropolitan Division (8) (8) (8) $39.25 $81,630
Anchorage, AK 70 0.43 3.72 $36.59 $76,110
Bakersfield-Delano, CA 210 0.80 7.03 $34.54 $71,830
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 80 0.18 1.56 $33.66 $70,020
Pascagoula, MS 150 2.68 23.43 $32.76 $68,130
Lake Charles, LA (8) (8) (8) $32.31 $67,200
Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO 280 0.23 2.04 $31.71 $65,970
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX (8) (8) (8) $30.83 $64,130

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northwestern Texas nonmetropolitan area 360 1.44 12.61 $29.09 $60,500
New Iberia nonmetropolitan area 260 1.95 17.02 $35.33 $73,480
Northeastern Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 90 0.74 6.43 $23.76 $49,430
Railbelt / Southwest Alaska nonmetropolitan area 80 1.14 10.00 $30.18 $62,770
Northeastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 60 1.14 9.94 $21.21 $44,120

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New Iberia nonmetropolitan area 260 1.95 17.02 $35.33 $73,480
Northwestern Texas nonmetropolitan area 360 1.44 12.61 $29.09 $60,500
Northeastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 60 1.14 9.94 $21.21 $44,120
Railbelt / Southwest Alaska nonmetropolitan area 80 1.14 10.00 $30.18 $62,770
Other Nevada nonmetropolitan area 40 0.76 6.60 $23.17 $48,200

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northwest Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $38.96 $81,030
New Iberia nonmetropolitan area 260 1.95 17.02 $35.33 $73,480
Southwestern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $32.34 $67,260
Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $30.20 $62,820
Railbelt / Southwest Alaska nonmetropolitan area 80 1.14 10.00 $30.18 $62,770


About May 2011 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OES estimates and related information:

May 2011 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order

List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order

Download May 2011 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped XLS files

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 27, 2012