My copy of AAPG Explorer arrived on Friday with a report that geologist's salaries increased on average, 9.45% last year, resulting in an unprecendented 3-year rise of 35%.
I've blogged in recent weeks about the price of oil, gold, copper, coal, and some rarer minerals. The global demand for energy and mineral resources is pushing a corresponding demand for geologists who can explore for and develop these deposits.
We've also had 40+ geology departments shut down in U.S. colleges in the past decade or so. However, despite that, enrollments have been moderately stable in recent years.
2007 Geological Salary Survey (AAPG)
| YEARS EXPERIENCE | HIGH | AVERAGE | LOW |
| 0-2 | $ 95,000 | $ 82,800 | $ 58,000 |
| 3-5 | 145,000 | 107,800 | 80,000 |
| 6-9 | 153,000 | 121,100 | 99,000 |
| 10-14 | 155,000 | 119,800 | 100,000 |
| 15-19 | 185,000 | 151,600 | 101,000 |
| 20-24 | 260,000 | 167,400 | 134,000 |
| 25+ | 200,000 | 162,800 | 130,000 |