Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians Salary
The median pay for a geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA is $50,160/year ($24.11/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.42), so that salary is closer to $47,581 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,922/month, about 58.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $50K get you in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro’s Regional Price Parity (105.42). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians
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What this looks like in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro
Geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians pay in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro tracks closely to the national median, $50K locally vs. $53K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,922/month, which is 59.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.42), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians in metros near Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $61K | $62K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $53K | $50K |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $60K | $56K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $69K | $60K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
Entry-level geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $102K | +91% | 30 |
| Indiana | $79K | +49% | N/A |
| Alaska | $76K | +43% | 70 |
| Nevada | $74K | +38% | 260 |
| California | $69K | +30% | 480 |
| West Virginia | $69K | +30% | 60 |
| Washington | $64K | +20% | N/A |
| Nebraska | $63K | +18% | N/A |
| Wyoming | $63K | +18% | 90 |
| Tennessee | $63K | +18% | 110 |
| Colorado | $62K | +16% | 90 |
| Massachusetts | $62K | +16% | 40 |
| New Mexico | $60K | +12% | N/A |
| Virginia | $59K | +11% | N/A |
| Louisiana | $59K | +11% | 160 |
| Michigan | $59K | +10% | 150 |
| New York | $57K | +7% | 280 |
| Montana | $56K | +4% | 100 |
| Oregon | $55K | +3% | 70 |
| Illinois | $53K | -0% | 80 |
| South Carolina | $53K | -0% | 90 |
| Kansas | $52K | -2% | N/A |
| North Dakota | $51K | -4% | 90 |
| Arizona | $50K | -6% | N/A |
| Florida | $50K | -6% | 300 |
| Kentucky | $50K | -7% | 60 |
| Ohio | $49K | -8% | 130 |
| North Carolina | $48K | -10% | 250 |
| Pennsylvania | $47K | -11% | 240 |
| Arkansas | $47K | -11% | 30 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -12% | 410 |
| Texas | $47K | -12% | 2,190 |
| Idaho | $47K | -13% | 70 |
| Alabama | $36K | -33% | N/A |
| Georgia | $35K | -35% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 35 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a geological technicians, except hydrologic technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 59.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,922/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,849/month. At HUD’s $1,922/month FMR, rent would take 67% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is geological technicians, except hydrologic technician a high-paying job in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $50K locally vs. $53K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro compare to the national average for geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — below the national median.
How much do geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians make in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA?
The median is $50,160 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,480, and experienced geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians can clear $75,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,207/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,922/month, which eats 59.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians salary go in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro has a Regional Price Parity of 105.42 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians salary is worth about $47,581 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.