Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers Salary
The median pay for a geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT is $93,030/year ($44.73/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $73K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.87), that's roughly $92,228 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,241/month, or 21.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $93K get you in Salt Lake City-Murray?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Salt Lake City-Murray’s Regional Price Parity (100.87). 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 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
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What this looks like in Salt Lake City-Murray
Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers pay in Salt Lake City-Murray tracks closely to the national median, $93K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,241/month, 21.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.87) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in metros near Salt Lake City-Murray, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Casper | $55K | $59K |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $94K | , |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $120K | , |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $82K | $79K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
Entry-level geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers (10th percentile) start around $73K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $70K spread from bottom to top.
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $145K | +42% | 4,900 |
| Rhode Island | $121K | +19% | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $120K | +18% | 770 |
| Colorado | $114K | +12% | 1,480 |
| Mississippi | $112K | +10% | 250 |
| Maryland | $111K | +8% | 390 |
| Massachusetts | $108K | +6% | 420 |
| Alaska | $107K | +5% | 430 |
| California | $107K | +4% | 3,350 |
| Hawaii | $106K | +4% | 110 |
| Washington | $105K | +3% | 840 |
| New Hampshire | $101K | -1% | N/A |
| Nevada | $100K | -2% | 520 |
| Oregon | $98K | -4% | 380 |
| Illinois | $97K | -5% | 410 |
| North Carolina | $95K | -7% | 570 |
| Florida | $95K | -7% | 660 |
| Delaware | $94K | -8% | 110 |
| Louisiana | $92K | -10% | 440 |
| Idaho | $91K | -11% | 130 |
| Utah | $90K | -12% | 300 |
| Alabama | $89K | -13% | 110 |
| New Mexico | $89K | -13% | 160 |
| New Jersey | $89K | -13% | 300 |
| Virginia | $88K | -13% | 300 |
| Vermont | $87K | -15% | N/A |
| Maine | $87K | -15% | 70 |
| New York | $86K | -15% | 600 |
| South Carolina | $86K | -16% | 230 |
| Nebraska | $86K | -16% | 110 |
| Arizona | $85K | -16% | 550 |
| Pennsylvania | $84K | -17% | 910 |
| North Dakota | $84K | -18% | 100 |
| Missouri | $83K | -18% | 260 |
| Ohio | $81K | -20% | 410 |
| Michigan | $81K | -21% | 320 |
| Minnesota | $81K | -21% | 240 |
| Kansas | $80K | -21% | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | -23% | 110 |
| Tennessee | $78K | -24% | 230 |
| Kentucky | $78K | -24% | 170 |
| West Virginia | $76K | -25% | 90 |
| Montana | $76K | -26% | 210 |
| Wyoming | $75K | -27% | 220 |
| Iowa | $74K | -27% | 40 |
| Georgia | $74K | -27% | 340 |
| South Dakota | $71K | -30% | 80 |
| Indiana | $68K | -33% | 270 |
| Arkansas | $68K | -33% | 70 |
| Connecticut | $62K | -39% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Salt Lake City-Murray numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Salt Lake City-Murray?
Yes — at the median salary of $93K, rent takes 21.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,241/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in Salt Lake City-Murray?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers typically earn — is $73K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,400/month. At HUD’s $1,241/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographer a high-paying job in Salt Lake City-Murray?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $93K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Salt Lake City-Murray compare to the national average for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers?
Salt Lake City-Murray pays $93K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.87), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — below the national median.
How much do geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers make in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT?
The median is $93,030 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,330, and experienced geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers can clear $143,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in Salt Lake City-Murray?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,792/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,241/month, which eats 21.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers salary go in Salt Lake City-Murray?
Salt Lake City-Murray has a Regional Price Parity of 100.87 (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 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers salary is worth about $92,228 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers 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.