SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs. Excludes “Petroleum Engineers” (17-2171).
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 17-2151.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $67,490 | $5,624 | $1,298 | $32.45 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $85,280 | $7,107 | $1,640 | $41.00 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $106,220 | $8,852 | $2,043 | $51.07 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $136,590 | $11,382 | $2,627 | $65.67 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $169,990 | $14,166 | $3,269 | $81.73 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers is $106,220, which is 108% higher. Among the 36 occupations of the field Architecture and Engineering, it ranks number 14 by median pay. With 6,080 jobs, it makes up about 0.4 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers pay by state
The highest median pay was in California ($158,130), Oklahoma ($131,660) and Utah ($125,520). The lowest was in North Carolina ($70,310), New York ($82,200) and Ohio ($86,210). The most jobs were in Arizona (690), Colorado (670) and California (520). The occupation is most concentrated in Alaska, where its share of all jobs is 23.2 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 520 | $158,130 | $143,080 | $76.03 |
| Oklahoma | 90 | $131,660 | $124,740 | $63.30 |
| Utah | 230 | $125,520 | $127,460 | $60.34 |
| Alaska | 300 | $124,630 | $133,750 | $59.92 |
| Idaho | 110 | $123,680 | $110,400 | $59.46 |
| Wyoming | 210 | $119,010 | $126,510 | $57.21 |
| Florida | 50 | $117,500 | $124,110 | $56.49 |
| Indiana | 60 | $113,640 | $113,930 | $54.64 |
| Illinois | not published | $107,690 | $110,850 | $51.77 |
| Nevada | 470 | $107,500 | $120,080 | $51.68 |
| Montana | 110 | $105,410 | $104,610 | $50.68 |
| Virginia | 150 | $104,960 | $109,930 | $50.46 |
| Kentucky | 230 | $103,300 | $106,230 | $49.67 |
| Alabama | 90 | $102,530 | $107,120 | $49.29 |
| Arizona | 690 | $102,130 | $113,830 | $49.10 |
| Texas | 160 | $100,580 | $115,440 | $48.35 |
| Tennessee | not published | $100,390 | $93,010 | $48.26 |
| South Carolina | 40 | $98,790 | $105,390 | $47.50 |
| West Virginia | 440 | $97,960 | $98,130 | $47.10 |
| Michigan | 140 | $97,310 | $103,290 | $46.78 |
| Colorado | 670 | $96,820 | $105,590 | $46.55 |
| Oregon | 90 | $96,210 | $112,420 | $46.25 |
| Wisconsin | 40 | $95,950 | $110,020 | $46.13 |
| Minnesota | 70 | $91,610 | $96,630 | $44.04 |
| Pennsylvania | not published | $87,020 | $97,820 | $41.84 |
| Ohio | 70 | $86,210 | $105,720 | $41.45 |
| New York | 50 | $82,200 | $95,640 | $39.52 |
| North Carolina | not published | $70,310 | $74,840 | $33.80 |
| Missouri | 40 | not published | not published | not published |
| New Mexico | 270 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Marine Engineers and Naval Architects$112,230 a year
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers$109,370 a year
- Environmental Engineers$107,110 a year
- Mechanical Engineers$104,110 a year
- Industrial Engineers$102,440 a year
- Civil Engineers$100,840 a year
Common questions
How much do Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $106,220 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $67,490 and the highest-paid 10% more than $169,990.
How many people work as Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers?
About 6,080 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.