Research Geologist Salaries in California
How Much Does a Research Geologist Make in California?
Updated April 01, 2025
As of April 01, 2025,
the average annual pay of Research Geologist in California is $126,443.
While Salary.com is seeing that Research Geologist salary in CA can go up to $149,652
or down to $94,355, but most earn between $109,647 and $138,592.
Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors,
including education, certifications, additional skills, and your experience levels.
With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Related Job Titles to Research Geologist
Facing Salary Structure Challenges? Let Our Expert Guide You
The job market is increasingly challenging. Our whitepaper, Navigating the Challenges of Creating Salary Structures, offers guidance on creating salary structures. Provide your phone number and work email to download the full version.
We will handle your contact details in line with our Privacy Policy.
If you prefer not to receive marketing emails from Salary.com, you can opt-out out of marketing communications at any time by clicking unsubscribe.
Choose a prefer time
Choose Your Preferred Time
All times are listed as US Eastern time (Boston/New York)
-
9:00 AM-9:30 AM
-
9:30 AM-10:00 AM
-
10:00 AM-10:30 AM
-
10:30 AM-11:00 AM
-
11:00 AM-11:30 AM
-
11:30 AM-12:00 PM
-
12:00 PM-12:30 PM
-
12:30 PM-1:00 PM
-
1:00 PM-1:30 PM
-
1:30 PM-2:00 PM
-
2:00 PM-2:30 PM
-
2:30 PM-3:00 PM
-
3:00 PM-3:30 PM
-
3:30 PM-4:00 PM
-
4:00 PM-4:30 PM
-
4:30 PM-5:00 PM
-
5:00 PM-5:30 PM
-
5:30 PM-6:00 PM
-
6:00 PM-6:30 PM
-
6:30 PM-7:00 PM
-
7:00 PM-7:30 PM
-
7:30 PM-8:00 PM
Similar Job Salaries to Research Geologist by Company
Loading results...
| Company | average base salary in (usd) | range |
|---|---|---|
|
Stratus Engineering LLC
Geologist
|
$81,941/yr
|
RANGE: $74,337 - $89,544
|
|
Essel
Geologist
|
$125,854/yr
|
RANGE: $113,758 - $137,950
|
|
County of Los Angeles, CA
ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST
|
$84,355/yr
|
RANGE: $76,527 - $92,182
|
|
Jobot
Staff Geologist
|
$79,907/yr
|
RANGE: $72,387 - $87,427
|
|
AEI Consultants
Project Geologist
|
$136,200/yr
|
RANGE: $122,980 - $149,421
|
|
AECOM Corp. - Worldwide
Engineering Geologist
|
$83,692/yr
|
RANGE: $75,926 - $91,458
|
|
Essel
Project Geologist
|
$106,239/yr
|
RANGE: $96,016 - $116,463
|
|
County of Los Angeles
ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST
|
$84,355/yr
|
RANGE: $76,527 - $92,182
|
|
GOLDEN QUEEN MINING COMPANY LLC
Senior Geologist
|
$100,119/yr
|
RANGE: $91,775 - $108,463
|
|
GPAC
PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST
|
$117,303/yr
|
RANGE: $105,617 - $128,989
|
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Research Geologist Jobs in California
It is important to understand how location impacts your career prospects in the United States.
There are some cities where a Research Geologist can find a job easily with a greater salary paid then achieve a higher standard of living.
Below is the top cities list for Research Geologist job salaries in California.
Some cities can pay higher salaries for Research Geologist jobs, which can indicate that there is a large demand for Research Geologist positions in this city.
The following table shows top 10 cities where the Research Geologist salary is higher than other cities in California.
San Jose takes first place in this list, followed by Santa Clara, Fremont.
The Research Geologist salary is $144,590 in San Jose,
which is higher than the national average. There are 76 cities' Research Geologist salary higher than national average in California.
The average salary for a Research Geologist in California is $126,443,
but we found that the city with the highest salary for Research Geologist jobs is San Jose, CA, and it is higher than Santa Clara.
Research Geologist jobs in San Jose can have the opportunity to earn higher salaries than in other cities in California.
| CITY | ANNUAL SALARY | MONTHLY PAY | WEEKLY PAY | HOURLY WAGE |
| San Jose | $144,590 | $12,049 | $2,781 | $70 |
| Santa Clara | $144,590 | $12,049 | $2,781 | $70 |
| Fremont | $144,315 | $12,026 | $2,775 | $69 |
| San Francisco | $143,168 | $11,931 | $2,753 | $69 |
| Daly City | $143,168 | $11,931 | $2,753 | $69 |
| Berkeley | $139,993 | $11,666 | $2,692 | $67 |
| Oakland | $139,993 | $11,666 | $2,692 | $67 |
| Hayward | $139,764 | $11,647 | $2,688 | $67 |
| Antioch | $132,083 | $11,007 | $2,540 | $64 |
| Vallejo | $128,965 | $10,747 | $2,480 | $62 |
What Does a Research Geologist Do?
"Studying Snowball Earth glaciations can tell us just how bad it can get, in which case life as we know it would probably not survive," says geologist Linda Sohl of Columbia University's Center for Climate Systems Research and NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies.
Updated December 21, 2021
If you are thinking of becoming a Research Geologist or planning the next step in your career, find details about.
Updated December 06, 2021
As a Research Geologist (Sedimentologist) within the Central Energy Resources Science Center, some of your specific duties will include:.
Updated November 30, 2021
Have become increasingly important tools for geologists, both in the research sector and in the commercial sector.
Updated November 22, 2021
Geologists work mainly in the field outdoors, but they can also do research within laboratories, classrooms, and offices.
Updated November 19, 2021
Empower Your Talent Strategy with Salary.com's Skills Library.
Struggling with Managing Your Job Descriptions?
View Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles, 18 Industries, and 26 Job Families.
Skills LibraryOur job description management tool- JobArchitect streamlines your job description process. Say goodbye to the hassle of crafting job descriptions.
Explore JobArchitectFrequently Asked Questions About a Research Geologist Salaries
What is the average of a Research Geologist in California?
The Research Geologist salary range is from $109,647 to $138,592, and the average Research Geologist salary is $126,443/year in California.
The Research Geologist's salary will change in different locations.
Which location pays the highest Research Geologist salary in the United States?
The Research Geologist salary in San Jose, CA is $144,590
which is the highest in the US.
What kinds of reasons will influence the Research Geologist's salary?
Besides the location, employees' education degree, related skills, and work experience also will influence the salary.
Try to improve your skills and experience to get a higher salary for the position of Research Geologist.
What is the growth rate of the Research Geologist's salary?
If you are thinking of becoming a Research Geologist or planning the next step in your career, find the detailed salary report of a Research Geologist.
