Graduate Geotechnical Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Graduate Geotechnical Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Graduate Geotechnical Engineer in the United States is $72,826 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

However, a Graduate Geotechnical Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $87,213
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $63,867 to $80,357
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,711

Key Factors That Influence Graduate Geotechnical Engineer Salaries

A Graduate Geotechnical Engineer'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 Graduate Geotechnical Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Graduate Geotechnical Engineer'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $70,711
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $70,960
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $74,044
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $77,379
  • Expert (over 8 years): $77,617
Levels Salary
Entry Level Graduate Geotechnical Engineer$70,711
Intermediate Level Graduate Geotechnical Engineer$70,960
Senior Level Graduate Geotechnical Engineer$74,044
Specialist Level Graduate Geotechnical Engineer$77,379
Expert Level Graduate Geotechnical Engineer$77,617

How Do Graduate Geotechnical Engineer 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 Graduate Geotechnical Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $80,633.
  • California: $80,327.
  • Massachusetts: $79,257.

Top Paying Cities for Graduate Geotechnical Engineers

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: $91,856
  • San Francisco: $90,850
  • Oakland: $88,935

What Skills Can Increase a Graduate Geotechnical Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 4.99% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Technical Support (Mentioned in 2.78% Job Postings): Offering hands-on assistance and solutions to end-users in addressing and troubleshooting technical issues.
  • IT Infrastructure (Mentioned in 1.64% Job Postings): Information technology infrastructure is defined broadly as a set of information technology components that are the foundation of an IT service; typically physical components, but also various software and network components.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 4.99%
Technical Support 2.78%
IT Infrastructure 1.64%

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 Graduate Geotechnical Engineer's salary.

  • System Maintenance: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
System Maintenance $83,022
14%
Innovation $80,837
11%
Collaboration $78,652
8%

Graduate Geotechnical Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Graduate Geotechnical Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Graduate Geotechnical Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Graduate Geotechnical Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Graduate Geotechnical Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$87,391$42.020%
Financial Services$83,750$40.015%
Internet$80,109$39.010%
Pharmaceuticals$80,109$39.010%
Aerospace & Defense$76,467$37.05%

How Education impacts a Graduate Geotechnical Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Graduate Geotechnical Engineers enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Graduate Geotechnical Engineer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $70,665 and $77,008).

Graduate Geotechnical Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Graduate Geotechnical Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 21.6%
Associates 20.0%
Bachelors 50.4%
Masters 6.4%
Doctorate 0.8%

Graduate Geotechnical Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Graduate Geotechnical Engineer'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
$63,867
Average $72,826/year
$80,357
$5,322
Average $6,069/month
$6,696
$1,228
Average $1,401/week
$1,545
$31
Average $35/hour
$39
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $80,357 $6,696 $1,545 $39
Average $72,826 $6,069 $1,401 $35
25th Percentile $63,867 $5,322 $1,228 $31

Most common benefits for Graduate Geotechnical Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Graduate Geotechnical Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Graduate Geotechnical Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Graduate Geotechnical Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Graduate Geotechnical Engineer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Graduate Geotechnical Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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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