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Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians vs. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists: Who Earns More?

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists out-earn Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians by $50K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians land at $53,350 and Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists at $103,410. The education gap is real: geological technicians, except hydrologic technician programs typically require bachelor's degree, while medical scientists, except epidemiologist programs require doctoral or professional degree. Top-paying state for Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians is Maryland ($102,090); for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists it's California ($136,990).

Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
Median salary
$53,350
$103,410
Hourly rate
$25.65/hr
$49.72/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$35,770
$64,800
Senior level (90th %)
$99,560
$177,780
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Doctoral or professional degree
U.S. employment
6,980
172,340
Job growth (10-year)
1.5%
8.7%
Category
Science
Science
Top-paying state
Maryland
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians median pay.

State
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
Maryland
$102,090
$106,000
Alaska
$76,090
$104,930
Nevada
$73,700
$98,560
California
$69,410
$136,990
Washington
$63,910
$105,680
Tennessee
$63,050
$102,720
Massachusetts
$61,630
$128,210
Virginia
$59,290
$93,620
Montana
$55,520
$101,950
Oregon
$55,090
$111,030
Arizona
$50,160
$116,820
Florida
$49,980
$94,940
North Carolina
$48,090
$102,980
Pennsylvania
$47,380
$99,190
Georgia
$34,710
$92,450

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians or Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists?

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists earn more nationally. The median is $53,350 for Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians versus $103,410 for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, a difference of $50K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians or Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists?

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists has the better 10-year outlook at 8.7% projected growth, compared to 1.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians or Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists?

Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians typically requires bachelor's degree. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists requires doctoral or professional degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians get paid the most?

Maryland is the top-paying state for Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians at $102,090/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians vs. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Maryland, Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians earn $102,090 vs. $106,000 for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians salary breakdownView →Full Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists by take-home payExplore →How to become a geological technicians, except hydrologic techniciansGuide →How to become a medical scientists, except epidemiologistsGuide →