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Prospect Geophysicist II Salary in the United States

How much does a Prospect Geophysicist II make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Prospect Geophysicist II in the United States is $145,190 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $70.

However, a Prospect Geophysicist II's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $166,052
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $129,480 to $156,110
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $115,177

Key Factors That Influence Prospect Geophysicist II Salaries

A Prospect Geophysicist II's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Prospect Geophysicist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Prospect Geophysicist II's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Certified Petroleum Geologist I (0-2 years): $121,353
  • Prospect Geophysicist II (2-4 years): $145,189
  • Certified Petroleum Geologist III (4-7 years): $165,816
  • Certified Petroleum Geologist IV (7+ years): $211,436
  • Certified Petroleum Geologist V (7-10 years): $253,202
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Certified Petroleum Geologist I0-2 years$121,353
Prospect Geophysicist II2-4 years$145,189
Certified Petroleum Geologist III4-7 years$165,816
Certified Petroleum Geologist IV7+ years$211,436
Certified Petroleum Geologist V7-10 years$253,202

How Do Prospect Geophysicist II Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Prospect Geophysicist IIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $160,760.
  • California: $160,150.
  • Massachusetts: $158,010.

Top Paying Cities for Prospect Geophysicist IIs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $183,130
  • San Francisco: $181,130
  • Oakland: $177,310

What Skills Can Increase a Prospect Geophysicist II's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 20.24% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Data Analysis (Mentioned in 5.95% Job Postings): Data analysis is a process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. Data analysis has multiple facets and approaches, encompassing diverse techniques under a variety of names, and is used in different business, science, and social science domains. In today's business world, data analysis plays a role in making decisions more scientific and helping businesses operate more effectively. Data mining is a particular data analysis technique that focuses on modeling and knowledge discovery for predictive rather than purely descriptive purposes, while business intelligence covers data analysis that relies heavily on aggregation, focusing mainly on business information. In statistical applications, data analysis can be divided into descriptive statistics, exploratory data analysis (EDA), and confirmatory data analysis (CDA). EDA focuses on discovering new features in the data while CDA focuses on confirming or falsifying existing hypotheses. Predictive analytics focuses on application of statistical models for predictive forecasting or classification, while text analytics applies statistical, linguistic, and structural techniques to extract and classify information from textual sources, a species of unstructured data. All of the above are varieties of data analysis.
  • Oil and Gas Exploration (Mentioned in 5.95% Job Postings): Hydrocarbon exploration (or oil and gas exploration) is the search by petroleum geologists and geophysicists for deposits of hydrocarbons, particularly petroleum and natural gas, in the Earth using petroleum geology.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 20.24%
Data Analysis 5.95%
Oil and Gas Exploration 5.95%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Prospect Geophysicist II's salary.

  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Geographic Information System: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Innovation $168,420
16%
Geographic Information System $161,161
11%
Problem Solving $158,257
9%

Prospect Geophysicist II Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Prospect Geophysicist II salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $168,690. While startup companies pay approximate $142,879.

Prospect Geophysicist II Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $142,879
Growth Stage 51~500 $151,050
Established 501~5000 $162,964
Enterprise 5000+ $168,690

How Education impacts a Prospect Geophysicist II's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Prospect Geophysicist IIs enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Prospect Geophysicist II with a Bachelor's Degree is between $134,356 and $141,458).

Prospect Geophysicist II Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Prospect Geophysicist II
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 25.0%
High School 75.0%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 25.0%
Masters 75.0%
Doctorate 0.0%

Prospect Geophysicist II Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Prospect Geophysicist II's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$129,480
Average $145,190/year
$156,110
$10,790
Average $12,099/month
$13,009
$2,490
Average $2,792/week
$3,002
$62
Average $70/hour
$75
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $156,110 $13,009 $3,002 $75
Average $145,190 $12,099 $2,792 $70
25th Percentile $129,480 $10,790 $2,490 $62

Prospect Geophysicist II Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Prospect Geophysicist II, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Certified Petroleum Geologist III role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $165,900 - a projected growth of 14% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Prospect Geophysicist II

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Prospect Geophysicist II

Here are companies hiring for Prospect Geophysicist II and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Prospect Geophysicist II

1. What geologists make the most money?

Geophysicists are among the top earners in geology, with salaries ranging from a minimum of $127,000 to a mid-level of $141,860, and a maximum of $149,840. Their expertise in analyzing physical properties of the Earth makes them essential in sectors like oil, gas, and mining, contributing significantly to their high earning potential.

2. What is a high salary in the US?

A high salary in the US varies by profession. For instance, a Prospect Geophysicist can expect a salary range from $127,000 to $149,840, with a midpoint of $141,860. This places it among competitive salaries in sectors like technology and healthcare, where roles such as IT Manager and Data Scientist also command high earnings.

3. What is the highest salary for a geophysicist?

Employees as Prospect Geophysicist earn an average salary of $141,860, with a range from a minimum of $127,000 to a maximum of $149,840 per year. The top earners in this field can expect to make close to the maximum salary, reflecting their expertise and experience.

4. How much does a mine geologist earn in USA?

In the USA, a Prospect Geophysicist earns between $127,000 and $149,840 annually, with a median salary of $141,860. This reflects a more specialized role compared to general mining geologists, whose salaries typically range from $56,000 to $112,000, depending on experience and location.

5. What is a luxurious salary in us?

A luxurious salary in the USA for a Prospect Geophysicist ranges from $127,000 to $149,840 annually, with a median salary of $141,860. This reflects the high demand and specialized skills required in the field, significantly surpassing the average salary across many other professions.

6. Does NASA hire geophysicist?

Yes, NASA does hire geophysicists. They are sought after for their expertise in analyzing geological data, which is crucial for various space missions and Earth science projects. The salary for a prospect geophysicist typically ranges from $127,000 to $149,840, with a median salary of around $141,860, reflecting the specialized skills required in this field.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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