Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Exploration Geologist in South Dakota is $46,360 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.
However, an Exploration Geologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
Recruit with AI
Exploration Geologist Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $50,479 | $4,207 | $971 | $24 |
| Average | $46,360 | $3,863 | $892 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,390 | $3,449 | $796 | $20 |
The Hirexpress LLC - SIDNEY, MT
Hyundai-MOBIS MPMI - MIAMI, FL
INTEGRIS Health - MIAMI, OK
J Scott Mahaney, DDS, PA - LUBBOCK, TX
An Exploration Geologist'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Exploration Geologist'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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Explorati... Level Exploration Geologist | $46,057 |
| Geologist... Level Exploration Geologist | $60,814 |
| Geologist... Level Exploration Geologist | $75,602 |
| Geologist... Level Exploration Geologist | $96,436 |
| Geologist... Level Exploration Geologist | $115,783 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Exploration Geologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Exploration Geologist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Exploration Geologist positions in Retail & Wholesale or Construction typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Exploration Geologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy & Utilities | $69,539 | $33.0 | 50% |
| Business Services | $55,631 | $27.0 | 20% |
Understanding how an Exploration Geologist'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $50,479 | $4,207 | $971 | $24 |
| Average | $46,360 | $3,863 | $892 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,390 | $3,449 | $796 | $20 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Exploration Geologist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Clinica Medica Familiar
RIVERSIDE, CA
Clinica Medica Familiar | RIVERSIDE, CA
OB/GYN physician. Location: Riverside, California. Employer: Clinica Medica Familiar. Job Type: Full-time*. Compensation and Benefits. Salary: $470,000 (f... more
1 Month Ago
New London Dental
NEW LONDON, OH
New London Dental | NEW LONDON, OH
At New London Complete Health, we believe exceptional patient care starts with an exceptional team. We are committed to creating a welcoming, patient-cente... more
2 Months Ago
Morgan Autism Center
SAN JOSE, CA
Morgan Autism Center | SAN JOSE, CA
Special Education Teacher. About Morgan Autism Center. Morgan Autism Center provides a safe, nurturing, and joyful environment where individuals impacted b... more
0 Months Ago
Oregon Community Programs
EUGENE, OR
Oregon Community Programs | EUGENE, OR
Oregon Community Programs is looking for caring adults and families in Oregon who are interested in becoming certified foster parents for children and teen... more
1 Month Ago
Nicolla and Associates
ALBANY, NY
Nicolla and Associates | ALBANY, NY
Nicolla and Associates, PT&OT Services, PLLC has been proudly serving the Capital Region for over 30 years. We offer a broad range of Physical Therapy, Occ... more
2 Months Ago
Bryant and Stratton College
ROCHESTER, NY
Bryant and Stratton College | ROCHESTER, NY
Unlock your full potential in the innovative and inclusive environment at Bryant & Stratton College. We are a career-focused, private, nonprofit college bu... more
6 Months Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
