# Job Market & Salary Landscape (2025–26)

```{admonition} Key Takeaway
:class: tip
A BS graduate who can write Python to process geophysical data *and* apply ML methods — and critically evaluate AI tool outputs — sits in an unusually strong market position in 2025–26.
```

## Starting salary by sector — entry BS level

| Sector | Range |
|--------|-------|
| AI / tech + geoscience crossover | \$85 – 110K |
| Oil & gas / energy sector | \$80 – 105K |
| Environmental & geotechnical consulting | \$65 – 80K |
| Federal / state government (USGS, NOAA) — GS-11 | \$82 – 107K |
| Academic research support (BS only) | \$45 – 60K |

*Sources: [Salary.com](https://www.salary.com/research/salary/alternate/entry-geophysicist-salary) · [PayScale](https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Geophysicist/Salary) · [ZipRecruiter](https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Jobs/Geophysics-Salary) · Federal GS-11 schedule from USGS job postings.*

## What employers screen for in 2025

::::{grid} 1 2 2 3
:gutter: 2

:::{grid-item-card} Python & scientific stack
<span class="ess-badge ess-b-blue">Python / NumPy / SciPy</span>
<span class="ess-badge ess-b-blue">ObsPy / GDAL / GMT</span>
:::

:::{grid-item-card} Domain methods
<span class="ess-badge ess-b-teal">Seismic interpretation software</span>
<span class="ess-badge ess-b-teal">GIS / geospatial analysis</span>
:::

:::{grid-item-card} Machine learning
<span class="ess-badge ess-b-amber">scikit-learn / PyTorch</span>
<span class="ess-badge ess-b-amber">Physics-informed NNs</span>
:::

:::{grid-item-card} Field & data skills
<span class="ess-badge ess-b-coral">Fieldwork / data acquisition</span>
<span class="ess-badge ess-b-purple">Cloud computing (AWS, GCP)</span>
:::

:::{grid-item-card} Reproducibility & writing
<span class="ess-badge ess-b-green">Git / reproducible code portfolio</span>
<span class="ess-badge ess-b-green">Technical writing</span>
:::

:::{grid-item-card} AI fluency
<span class="ess-badge ess-b-purple">AI tool fluency</span>
<span class="ess-badge ess-b-purple">Prompt engineering & critical evaluation</span>
:::
::::

A review of 500+ ML publications in seismic exploration (SEG/EAGE, 2010–2021) found that ML now spans every step of the seismic processing workflow — yet the talent pool combining geoscience domain knowledge with ML engineering skill remains limited ([Anjom et al., *Geophysics*, 2024](https://doi.org/10.1190/geo2023-0129.1)).

## Washington state outlook

The American Geosciences Institute projects U.S. geoscience employment to grow from 461,152 (2024) to 478,091 (2034), a +3.7% increase ([AGI, 2025](https://profession.americangeosciences.org/research/data/employment-projections/)). Washington state salaries for Geophysicist I average **\$107,037** — above the national average — reflecting the concentration of tech-adjacent employers and federal agencies in the PNW ([Salary.com, Feb 2026](https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/geophysicist-i-salary)).

```{note}
**Salary data caveat:** Figures vary across sources reflecting different methodologies (employer-reported vs. self-reported, different job title definitions). Treat all figures as estimates; verify via BLS, LinkedIn Salary, and current job postings for your specific sector and location.
```