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Geophysicist - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Geophysicist"
How much does a Geophysicist in the federal government get paid? $126,745.07* *Based on the 2021 average.Geophysicist was the 279th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 338 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.
In 2021, the Geological Survey hired the most employees titled Geophysics, with an average salary of $123,302.
Government Geophysics jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Geophysics job is GS-6, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is GS-15. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions fall under this job category. Due to the growing focus of them STEM fields, individuals in this job category tend to advance more quickly than employees in the other job categories. Jobs in this category are being added quickly and many organizations have trouble finding qualified individuals. Individuals in this job category typically recieve pormotions of 2 grade increases at a time until they reach GS-12.
Agencies that have hired a Geophysicist
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Geological Survey | 242 | $123,301.56 |
| Bureau of Ocean Energy Management | 41 | $130,347.90 |
| Goddard Space Flight Center | 15 | $156,624.40 |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 10 | $109,620.30 |
| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | 8 | $131,229.00 |
| Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement | 7 | $122,148.00 |
| Nuclear Regulatory Commission | 7 | $152,578.71 |
| National Science Foundation | 5 | $166,097.20 |
| Department of State | 1 | $0.00 |
| Bureau of Land Management | 1 | $121,586.00 |
| Federal Emergency Management Agency | 1 | $159,286.00 |
Geophysicist Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Geophysicist is $126,745.07. The highest paid Geophysicist made $199,300 in 2021.
Common Geophysicist Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Geophysics Employees |
|---|---|
| GS - General Schedule | 315 |
| ST - Scientific And Professional | 8 |
| AD - Administratively Determined Rates, Not Elsewhere Specified | 5 |
| GG - Grades Similar To General Schedule | 5 |
| ZP - Scientific And Engineering Professional | 1 |
| SL - Senior Level Positions | 1 |
| SN - Senior Level System | 1 |
| EG - Consultant (other) | 1 |
| EF - Consultant (5 U.s.c. 3109) | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $34,649.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-6, Step 1 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $146,757.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-15, Step 10 |
| Category: | Professional and Scientific |
| Occupation Family: | 1300 PHYSICAL SCIENCES GROUP |
Other Jobs at the GS-6 Paygrade
GS-6 is the starting paygrade for Geophysics jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the GS-6 paygrade.
| Occupation | Occupation Category | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil Conservation Technician | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Food Technology | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
| Clerk-Typist | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Highway Safety | Administrative and Management | GS-4 | GS-15 |
| Closed Microphone Reporting | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
Average Geophysics Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for a Geophysicist was $95,067. Since then, the average pay has increased to $126,745 in 2021.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 1313.