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Geophysicist - Federal Salaries of 2017
Pay Rates for "Geophysicist"
How much does a Geophysicist in the federal government get paid? $117,702.23* *Based on the 2017 average.Geophysicist was the 280th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2017, with 335 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.
In 2017, the Geological Survey hired the most employees titled Geophysics, with an average salary of $114,874.
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 | 234 | $114,874.42 |
| Bureau of Ocean Energy Management | 43 | $118,071.35 |
| Goddard Space Flight Center | 15 | $141,025.00 |
| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | 10 | $125,073.90 |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 9 | $100,652.44 |
| Nuclear Regulatory Commission | 8 | $140,038.13 |
| Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement | 7 | $121,676.14 |
| National Science Foundation | 7 | $138,764.00 |
| Federal Emergency Management Agency | 1 | $145,629.00 |
| Office of the Secretary of the Interior | 1 | $111,562.00 |
Geophysicist Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Geophysicist is $117,702.23. The highest paid Geophysicist made $187,500 in 2017.
Common Geophysicist Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Geophysics Employees |
|---|---|
| GS - General Schedule | 310 |
| ST - Scientific And Professional | 7 |
| AD - Administratively Determined Rates, Not E | 7 |
| GG - Grades Similar To General Schedule | 5 |
| ZP - Scientific And Engineering Professional | 2 |
| EG - Consultant (other) | 2 |
| GM - Emp Covered By Pmrs Termination Provisns | 1 |
| SN - Senior Level System | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $32,716.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-6, Step 1 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $138,572.00 / 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
| Meteorology | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
| Equipment Operator | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Freight Rate | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Data Transcriber | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
Average Geophysics Pay Trend from 2004 to 2017
In 2004, the average pay for a Geophysicist was $95,067. Since then, the average pay has increased to $117,702 in 2017.
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.