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The geoscience sector is more than just “geologists”, and consideration of employment & salary requires individuals to consider a broad range of job titles that utilise their geoscience skills.
Within a single 12-month period, March 2024-February 2025, there were more than 5,000 unique job postings for geoscientists from over 700 different employers. Key sectors with multiple vacancies included resources, energy, construction, engineering, education, and the geotechnical sectors.
Of those 5,000 listings, only 368 used the title “geologist” alone.
Most geoscience roles posted within the study period were in the engineering geology or environmental geoscience sectors, with a comparatively smaller number posted in more specialised areas such as geochemistry and/or planetary geology, dominantly appearing in academic research settings.
5,000+ unique job postings
700+ employers
Almost two thirds of all advertised geoscience roles within a 12-month period (March 2024 – February 2025) were in the engineering or environmental geoscience sectors.
£34,293
median salary for graduate geoscientists
32% higher
than other graduates (Dept. for Education)
What is a likely salary for a geoscience graduate?
What is a likely salary for a geoscience graduate?
Across the 5,000 unique job postings, lower salaries corresponded to entry-level and training roles aligned to the national living wage, and the highest paid jobs attracted salaries of £159,000, reflecting the salary progression seen throughout a career in geoscience. However, the median salary associated with jobs advertised for university graduates in geoscience was £34,293.
This median for geoscience graduates is ~30% higher than the median figure reported by the Department for Education for all graduates upon leaving university. It is also ~24% higher than the figure reported by HESA for all graduates 15 months after graduation. This is an encouraging message that geoscience graduates are well paid relative to their peers.
The median salary by graduate type as published by the Department for Education at point of graduation (orange), 15 months after graduation (green) by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), and geoscience graduates entering the working (blue) from this study.
How do salaries for geoscientists vary with experience & further training?
How do salaries for geoscientists vary with experience & further training?
Building on the strong graduate salary indicated in the previous section, data for advertised salaries for jobs targeted at graduates with five years of experience in the field, and those who go on to complete postgraduate qualifications, show rapid progression.
Five years experience attracts a 20% increase against new graduate salaries, while a postgraduate qualification unlocks roles at approximately 26% higher than graduates.
20% increase
in salary after 5 years
26% higher
salaries with postgraduate qualifications
The financial reward available to geoscience graduates within the workforce after 5 years, and to those who have chosen further postgraduate study; an increase of ~20 % and 26 % respectively.
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