What are the main factors that influence a Chief Geologist's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for Chief Geologist?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Chief Geologist roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

How does experience change A Chief Geologist's salary?

A Chief Geologist's salary grows with experience: starting around $49,346 for beginners, reaching about $81,015 at mid-level, and approach $124,055 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Chief Geologist?

Chief Geologist salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Chief Geologist roles are District of Columbia $98,343, California $97,970, Massachusetts $96,665. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Chief Geologist roles make?

Salaries for Chief Geologist level roles vary by specialization: Chief Geologist Red: $280,758; Expert Geologist: $131,100; Geologist V: $131,007; Geologist IV: $109,123; Senior Geologist: $85,560.

Chief Geologist Salary in Montana

How much does a Chief Geologist make in Montana? As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chief Geologist in Montana is $83,856 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.

However, a Chief Geologist's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $109,915
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $73,028 to $97,496
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,170

10% $63,170

50% (Median) $83,856

90% $109,915

Chief Geologist Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$97,496	$8,125	$1,875	$47
Average	$83,856	$6,988	$1,613	$40
25th Percentile	$73,028	$6,086	$1,404	$35

Salary Factors Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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Key Factors That Influence Chief Geologist Salaries

A Chief Geologist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Chief Geologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Chief Geologist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $49,346
Early Career (1-2 years): $65,165
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $81,015
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $103,332
Expert (over 8 years): $124,055

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Geologist I	less than 1 year	$49,346
Geologist II	1-2 years	$65,165
Chief Geologist	2-4 years	$81,015
Geologist IV	5-8 years	$103,332
Geologist V	over 8 years	$124,055

How Do Chief Geologist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Chief Geologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $98,343.
California: $97,970.
Massachusetts: $96,665.

District of Columbia $98,343 California $97,970 Massachusetts $96,665 Washington $96,309 New Jersey $96,274 Alaska $96,149 Connecticut $94,924 New York $94,426

Hawaii $92,836 Rhode Island $92,090 Maryland $91,584 Minnesota $90,891 Colorado $90,625 Illinois $90,536 Oregon $90,198 Delaware $89,950

New Hampshire $89,793 Virginia $89,443 Pennsylvania $88,422 Nevada $87,907 North Dakota $87,738 Michigan $87,472 Wisconsin $87,374 Vermont $87,178

Texas $86,637 Maine $86,601 Arizona $86,548 Ohio $86,486 Georgia $85,668 Indiana $85,260 Wyoming $85,180 Utah $85,056

Iowa $85,002 Kansas $84,576 Louisiana $84,452 North Carolina $84,407 Missouri $84,389 Florida $84,043 Montana $83,856 Nebraska $83,679

Kentucky $83,581 South Carolina $83,226 Tennessee $83,004 Idaho $82,915 New Mexico $82,267 Oklahoma $82,124 Alabama $81,600 South Dakota $80,721

Arkansas $80,241 West Virginia $79,984 Mississippi $79,211

Top Paying Cities for Chief Geologist

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

Absarokee: $83,346
Acton: $85,364
Ashland: $83,282

Absarokee, MT $83,346

Acton, MT $85,364

Ashland, MT $83,282

Ballantine, MT $85,233

Bearcreek, MT $83,334

Belfry, MT $83,419

Bighorn, MT $83,145

Big Timber, MT $83,276

Birney, MT $83,223

Boyd, MT $84,096

Bridger, MT $83,770

Broadview, MT $84,891

Busby, MT $83,317

Clyde Park, MT $83,292

Columbus, MT $83,976

Cooke City, MT $83,129

Crow Agency, MT $83,388

Custer, MT $83,411

Decker, MT $83,302

Edgar, MT $85,047

Emigrant, MT $83,284

Fishtail, MT $83,213

Fromberg, MT $84,711

Gardiner, MT $83,287

Garryowen, MT $83,356

Grass Range, MT $83,201

Greycliff, MT $83,282

Hardin, MT $84,081

Fort Smith, MT $83,820

Harlowton, MT $83,247

Huntley, MT $85,653

Hysham, MT $83,188

Ingomar, MT $83,030

Joliet, MT $84,721

Lame Deer, MT $83,366

Laurel, MT $85,628

Lavina, MT $83,480

Livingston, MT $83,384

Lodge Grass, MT $83,403

Mc Leod, MT $83,102

Martinsdale, MT $83,157

Melstone, MT $83,188

Melville, MT $83,125

Molt, MT $85,124

Mosby, MT $83,073

Musselshell, MT $83,159

Nye, MT $83,204

Otter, MT $83,284

Park City, MT $85,040

Pompeys Pillar, MT $84,704

Pray, MT $83,242

Pryor, MT $84,752

Rapelje, MT $83,772

Red Lodge, MT $83,352

Reed Point, MT $83,248

Roberts, MT $83,704

Roscoe, MT $83,187

Roundup, MT $83,345

Ryegate, MT $83,173

Saint Xavier, MT $83,745

Sanders, MT $83,289

Sand Springs, MT $83,082

Shawmut, MT $83,146

Shepherd, MT $85,279

Silver Gate, MT $83,353

Springdale, MT $83,229

Sumatra, MT $83,082

Teigen, MT $83,203

Two Dot, MT $83,137

Wilsall, MT $83,211

Winnett, MT $83,143

Worden, MT $84,599

Wyola, MT $83,439

Billings, MT $85,728

Baker, MT $83,571

Wolf Point, MT $83,285

Antelope, MT $83,387

Bainville, MT $83,674

Brockton, MT $83,244

Brockway, MT $83,128

Circle, MT $83,191

Crane, MT $83,731

Culbertson, MT $83,427

Dagmar, MT $83,466

Fairview, MT $83,708

Flaxville, MT $83,179

Fort Peck, MT $83,139

Frazer, MT $83,235

Froid, MT $83,315

Glasgow, MT $83,279

Saint Marie, MT $83,633

Glentana, MT $83,140

Hinsdale, MT $83,121

Homestead, MT $83,315

Lambert, MT $83,264

Larslan, MT $83,127

Medicine Lake, MT $83,303

Nashua, MT $83,236

Opheim, MT $83,115

Outlook, MT $83,240

Peerless, MT $83,131

Plentywood, MT $83,372

Poplar, MT $83,300

Raymond, MT $83,309

Redstone, MT $83,133

Reserve, MT $83,215

Richey, MT $83,167

Richland, MT $83,121

Saco, MT $83,169

Savage, MT $83,415

Scobey, MT $83,244

Sidney, MT $83,729

Vandalia, MT $83,160

Vida, MT $83,187

Westby, MT $83,450

Whitetail, MT $83,119

Miles City, MT $83,292

Alzada, MT $83,221

Angela, MT $83,070

Alberton, MT $83,194

Arlee, MT $83,225

Bonner, MT $83,197

Charlo, MT $83,249

Clinton, MT $83,253

Condon, MT $83,104

Conner, MT $83,268

Corvallis, MT $83,379

Darby, MT $83,109

De Borgia, MT $82,936

Dixon, MT $83,175

Drummond, MT $83,221

Florence, MT $83,359

Frenchtown, MT $83,325

Grantsdale, MT $83,334

Hall, MT $83,204

Hamilton, MT $83,336

Pinesdale, MT $83,527

Haugan, MT $82,917

Helmville, MT $83,041

Heron, MT $82,948

Hot Springs, MT $83,099

Huson, MT $83,215

Lolo, MT $83,309

Lonepine, MT $83,129

Milltown, MT $83,520

Noxon, MT $82,914

Ovando, MT $83,032

Pablo, MT $83,546

Paradise, MT $83,223

Philipsburg, MT $83,204

Plains, MT $83,157

Polson, MT $83,287

Ravalli, MT $83,234

Ronan, MT $83,298

Saint Ignatius, MT $83,277

Saint Regis, MT $83,100

Saltese, MT $82,883

Seeley Lake, MT $83,244

Stevensville, MT $83,376

Sula, MT $83,079

Superior, MT $83,160

Thompson Falls, MT $83,042

Trout Creek, MT $82,965

Victor, MT $83,324

Kalispell, MT $83,359

Big Arm, MT $83,249

Bigfork, MT $83,245

Columbia Falls, MT $83,351

Coram, MT $83,244

Dayton, MT $83,260

Elmo, MT $83,163

Essex, MT $83,109

Eureka, MT $83,268

Fortine, MT $83,187

Hungry Horse, MT $83,447

Kila, MT $83,178

Lake Mc Donald, MT $83,253

Lakeside, MT $83,315

Libby, MT $83,143

Marion, MT $83,132

Martin City, MT $83,312

Olney, MT $83,119

Polebridge, MT $82,974

Proctor, MT $83,139

Rexford, MT $83,201

Rollins, MT $83,189

Somers, MT $83,304

Stryker, MT $83,104

Trego, MT $83,166

Troy, MT $82,914

West Glacier, MT $82,999

Whitefish, MT $83,309

Bloomfield, MT $83,213

Boyes, MT $83,239

Broadus, MT $83,264

Brusett, MT $83,131

Capitol, MT $83,065

Cohagen, MT $83,100

Colstrip, MT $83,438

Ekalaka, MT $83,244

Fallon, MT $83,332

Forsyth, MT $83,222

Glendive, MT $83,498

Hammond, MT $83,187

Hathaway, MT $83,279

Ismay, MT $83,213

Jordan, MT $83,149

Kinsey, MT $83,248

Lindsay, MT $83,143

Mildred, MT $83,332

Olive, MT $83,160

Plevna, MT $83,403

Powderville, MT $83,078

Rosebud, MT $83,119

Terry, MT $83,174

Volborg, MT $83,121

Wibaux, MT $83,465

Willard, MT $83,431

Great Falls, MT $79,700

Malmstrom A F B, MT $79,700

Augusta, MT $83,117

Babb, MT $83,148

Belt, MT $80,678

Black Eagle, MT $79,700

Brady, MT $82,328

Browning, MT $83,260

Buffalo, MT $83,196

Bynum, MT $83,185

Carter, MT $81,083

Cascade, MT $82,204

Choteau, MT $83,187

Coffee Creek, MT $83,193

Conrad, MT $83,262

Cut Bank, MT $83,206

Denton, MT $83,173

Dupuyer, MT $83,109

Dutton, MT $81,385

East Glacier Park, MT $83,073

Ethridge, MT $83,099

Fairfield, MT $82,530

Floweree, MT $79,867

Forest Grove, MT $83,161

Fort Benton, MT $82,588

Fort Shaw, MT $80,790

Galata, MT $83,121

Geraldine, MT $83,157

Geyser, MT $82,558

Heart Butte, MT $83,258

Highwood, MT $80,793

Hilger, MT $83,194

Hobson, MT $83,205

Judith Gap, MT $83,189

Kevin, MT $83,175

Ledger, MT $83,139

Lewistown, MT $83,340

Loma, MT $83,156

Lothair, MT $83,149

Moccasin, MT $83,211

Monarch, MT $82,290

Moore, MT $83,256

Neihart, MT $82,903

Oilmont, MT $83,133

Pendroy, MT $83,109

Power, MT $80,478

Raynesford, MT $82,194

Roy, MT $83,117

Sand Coulee, MT $79,700

Shelby, MT $83,264

Simms, MT $81,419

Stanford, MT $83,201

Stockett, MT $80,520

Sunburst, MT $83,205

Sun River, MT $80,372

Sweet Grass, MT $83,154

Biddle, MT $83,293

Ulm, MT $79,738

Valier, MT $83,193

Vaughn, MT $80,029

Winifred, MT $83,164

Havre, MT $83,321

Big Sandy, MT $83,181

Box Elder, MT $83,346

Chester, MT $83,192

Chinook, MT $83,207

Dodson, MT $83,176

Gildford, MT $83,162

Harlem, MT $83,276

Hays, MT $83,310

Hingham, MT $83,163

Hogeland, MT $83,149

Inverness, MT $83,142

Joplin, MT $83,163

Kremlin, MT $83,160

Lloyd, MT $83,038

Loring, MT $83,117

Malta, MT $83,221

Rudyard, MT $83,181

Turner, MT $83,168

Whitewater, MT $83,132

Whitlash, MT $83,074

Zortman, MT $83,229

Zurich, MT $83,115

Helena, MT $79,469

Basin, MT $81,205

Boulder, MT $82,094

Canyon Creek, MT $80,355

Clancy, MT $79,604

East Helena, MT $79,415

Fort Harrison, MT $79,415

Jefferson City, MT $80,175

Lincoln, MT $83,183

Marysville, MT $80,257

Radersburg, MT $82,226

Ringling, MT $83,090

Toston, MT $82,542

Townsend, MT $81,318

White Sulphur Springs, MT $82,847

Winston, MT $80,340

Wolf Creek, MT $82,035

Butte, MT $83,180

Alder, MT $83,151

Anaconda, MT $83,364

Avon, MT $81,147

Belgrade, MT $83,463

Bozeman, MT $83,516

Big Sky, MT $83,454

Cameron, MT $83,096

Cardwell, MT $83,276

Deer Lodge, MT $82,674

Dell, MT $82,869

Dillon, MT $83,215

Divide, MT $83,192

Elliston, MT $80,471

Ennis, MT $83,327

Gallatin Gateway, MT $83,279

Garrison, MT $82,266

Glen, MT $83,189

Gold Creek, MT $82,815

Harrison, MT $83,300

Jackson, MT $82,975

Lima, MT $82,928

Mc Allister, MT $83,311

Manhattan, MT $83,439

Melrose, MT $83,198

Norris, MT $83,197

Polaris, MT $83,097

Pony, MT $83,317

Ramsay, MT $83,361

Sheridan, MT $83,346

Silver Star, MT $83,344

Three Forks, MT $83,373

Twin Bridges, MT $83,275

Virginia City, MT $83,304

Warm Springs, MT $83,352

West Yellowstone, MT $83,258

Whitehall, MT $83,362

Willow Creek, MT $83,337

Wisdom, MT $82,996

Wise River, MT $83,141

Missoula, MT $83,646

Chief Geologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Chief Geologist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 120% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Chief Geologist positions in Retail & Wholesale or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Chief Geologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Chief Geologist

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services	$125,785	$60.0	50%
Energy & Utilities	$100,628	$48.0	20%
Construction	$92,242	$44.0	10%

Chief Geologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chief Geologist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

$73,028

Average $83,856/year

$97,496

$6,086

Average $6,988/month

$8,125

$1,404

Average $1,613/week

$1,875

$35

Average $40/hour

$47

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$97,496	$8,125	$1,875	$47
Average	$83,856	$6,988	$1,613	$40
25th Percentile	$73,028	$6,086	$1,404	$35

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Chief Geologist Salary in Montana

Check out Chief Geologist Job Openings in Montana

Key Factors That Influence Chief Geologist Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Chief Geologist Salaries?

How Do Chief Geologist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Chief Geologist

Chief Geologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Chief Geologist

Chief Geologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Find Your Next Chief Geologist Job

For Employees

For Employers

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Chief Geologist Salary in Montana

Check out Chief Geologist Job Openings in Montana

Key Factors That Influence Chief Geologist Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Chief Geologist Salaries?

How Do Chief Geologist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Chief Geologist

Chief Geologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Chief Geologist

Chief Geologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salaries of jobs related to Chief Geologist

Find Your Next Chief Geologist Job

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