Geotechnical Engineering Salary in the U.S. | How Much Do Geotechnical Engineers Make in 2023 (Updated)?

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When it comes to Geotechnical Engineering salary, it depends, first and foremost, on the law of supply and demand.

One specialization may be scarce in one economy and thus in high demand in another. This results in high wages in scarce specialization.

In contrast, if there is an abundance of a particular specialization, the labor market will become flooded with it. Because there is little or no competition in the specific specialization, salaries are low.

The type of education and experience plays a significant role. Numerous factors are at play, but I have only mentioned a few. However, we will be extensively discussing the salary attached to geotechnical engineering and all factors affecting it.

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What Does It Mean To Be a Geotechnical Engineer?

Everything in Geotech is an approximation, and most formulas and theories must meet certain requirements in order to be applied, so engineering judgment is very important in this field.

A Geotechnical Engineer is needed to;

  1. Create the foundations for any structure that will be built
  2. To determine the bearing capacity of red ground, design and conduct a site investigation, soil investigation, and/or rock investigation
  3. Conduct soil, rock, and pile testing
  4. Create a dewatering system to ensure that dry conditions prevail during construction
  5. To avoid landslides, create safe slopes.

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What is the Role of a Geotechnical Engineer?

Buildings, roads, embankments, canals, and hundreds of other construction projects are planned and designed by Geotechnical Engineers.

In addition to their construction duties, geotechnical engineers must deal with geological hazards such as landslides, soil erosion, and, in extreme cases, earthquakes.

Listed below are some expected responsibilities of a Geotechnical engineer;

  • Assign, review, and evaluate laboratory or field data for report inclusion
  • Assist with new project and client business development
  • Provide compliance, standards, and policy guidance to system owners
  • Examine the drawings and construction to ensure that they are in accordance with the plans and specifications
  • Regular client engagement results in ever-expanding client trust relationships
  • Conduct geotechnical engineering on local projects.

What is the Average Geotechnical Engineer’s Salary?

According to Zippia.com, the average salary for a geotechnical engineering job is $76,000 yearly and $36.90 per hour.

With the lowest 10th percent making an average salary of $55,000 every year and $26 per hour, the top 90 percent making about $106,000 every year and $51 per hour.

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Factors Affecting the Salary of Geotechnical Engineers in the US

There are many factors that affect the salary of Geotechnical Engineering jobs in the U.S. However, this article will hammer into the basic, most relevant factors.

The most common factors that can inspire a significant variation in the salary of Geotechnical Engineering jobs in the U.S. are:

Location

The states with the highest wages will most likely have to do with their ability to import and export. States, like any other country, rely on their ability to import and export goods.

If your state is “wealthy,” the citizen is, in some ways, also. Washington State is an excellent example of this Process. Kentucky is a prime example of a failed process.

Level of Experience

The more experience you have, the more money you will make. As a result, small businesses may avoid hiring more experienced employees because they must pay higher wages.

Yes, your salary is linked to your experience.

Work 10 years doing something unremarkable, and your value is considered average; work 10 years doing something impressive, and your net worth is higher.

As a result, when taking a new job, you can leverage the fact that your experiences provide added value to the employer hiring you and, as such, demand higher pay.

Level of Education

More educated people earn more on average.

They have spent hours and hours educating themselves, with a good coach to get to where they are.

The more you know about your field, the more you are likely to be paid.

Industry

Currently, the healthcare industry is rearing its head to the top of the charts in high-paying industries.

However, the science and technology industry is not far behind. The industry also matters even when location and job descriptions are similar. This means you don’t expect a Macdonald’s manager’s salary to be in any way the same as the manager of a Toyota dealership.

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How Much Does a Geotechnical Engineer Make in the US?

According to zippia.com, we will discuss the salary of a geotechnical engineer comprehensively. Yearly, monthly, weekly, and hourly pay.

PercentileAnnual SalaryMonthly SalaryHourly Rate
90th Percentile$106,000$8,833$51
75th Percentile$91,000$7,583$44
Average$76,743$6,395$37
25th Percentile$64,000$5,333$31
10th Percentile$55,000$4,583$26
zippia.com

How Much Does a Geotechnical Engineer Make A Year?

According to zippia.com, the average yearly salary of a Geotechnical engineer is $76,000 yearly or $36.90 hourly.

With the lowest 10% at entry-level making about $55,000 yearly, senior-level engineers make up tp $106,000

How Much Do Geotechnical Engineers Make a Month?

According to zippia.com, the average monthly salary of a Geotechnical engineer is $6,395 monthly.

With the lowest 10 percentile making about $4,583 and the highest 90 percentile making about $8,833.

How Much Do Geotechnical Engineers Make Weekly?

According to zippia.com, the average weekly salary of a Geotechnical engineer is $1,599 weekly.

With the lowest 10 percentile making about $1,146 and the highest 90 percentile making about $2,208.

How Much Do Geotechnical Engineers Make per Hour?

According to zippia.com, the average hourly salary of a Geotechnical engineer is $36.09 per hour.

With the lowest 10 percentile making about $26 and the highest 90 percentile making about $51 per hour.

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Salary of a Geotechnical Engineer in the US Based on Location

As we have previously mentioned, location is one of the basic factors affecting the salary of a Geotechnical engineer in the US.

Rank  State  Avg. Salary  Hourly Rate  Job Count  
1Alaska$99,561$47.8760
2Oregon$81,350$39.11289
3Washington$80,036$38.48471
4Virginia$77,495$37.26718
5California$85,231$40.981,864
6Maine$74,044$35.6059
7Arizona$74,511$35.82276
8Colorado$74,857$35.99384
9Delaware$74,134$35.6478
10Nevada$72,072$34.6598
11New York$77,801$37.40540
12Louisiana$72,453$34.83120
13Vermont$73,467$35.3234
14Oklahoma$73,822$35.4982
15District of Columbia$74,250$35.70230
16Mississippi$72,655$34.9363
17Alabama$69,962$33.64186
18Massachusetts$74,573$35.85368
19North Dakota$68,925$33.1447
20Minnesota$74,218$35.68203
21North Carolina$71,441$34.35331
22Idaho$71,147$34.2162
23New Jersey$75,281$36.19247
24Utah$69,531$33.43147
25Kentucky$70,605$33.9495
26Connecticut$73,108$35.15105
27Pennsylvania$69,713$33.52319
28Michigan$67,413$32.41303
29Montana$67,818$32.6062
30Rhode Island$70,407$33.8536
zippia.com

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What are the Highest-Paying States in the United States for Geotechnical Engineering Jobs?

Although many Geotechnical Engineer jobs are available in America, most of them are in the South. Alaska has the highest median salary in the country for Geotechnical Engineering jobs, and California has the second-highest.

Average Annual Salary:$107,548
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$83,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:$139,000
Geotechnical engineering salary in Alaska
Average Annual Salary:$85,432
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$63,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:$115,000
Geotechnical engineering salary in Oregon
Average Annual Salary:$83,402
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$61,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:$112,000
Geotechnical engineering salary in Washington
Average Annual Salary:$91,577
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$66,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:$126,000
Geotechnical engineering salary in California
Average Annual Salary:$80,782
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$61,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:$106,000
Geotechnical engineering salary in Colorado

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What Are The Top Ten Cities With The Highest Salary For Geotechnical Engineering Jobs?

Within the U.S., these are the top cities with the highest salary for Geotechnical engineering jobs:

Rank  City  Avg. Salary  Hourly Rate  
1Anchorage, AK$99,890$48.02
2Sacramento, CA$89,360$42.96
3Portland, OR$81,293$39.08
4Seattle, WA$80,643$38.77
5New York, NY$77,802$37.40
6Virginia Beach, VA$77,473$37.25
7Clifton, NJ$75,325$36.21
8Reno, NV$75,229$36.17
9Lakewood, CO$74,896$36.01
10Phoenix, AZ$74,619$35.87
11Boston, MA$74,566$35.85
12Portland, ME$74,251$35.70
13Oklahoma City, OK$74,001$35.58
14Baton Rouge, LA$72,489$34.85
15Raleigh, NC$71,569$34.41
zippia.com

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Salary for a Geotechnical Engineer in the US Based on Level

Level (entry or senior) is definitely a basic factor affecting the salary of a Geotechnical engineer in the U.S.

How Much Do Geotechnical Engineers Make Based on Entry Level?

Entry level Geotechnical engineers averagely make about $55,000 yearly salary and this figure is according to zippia.com. If you do the maths, this will sum up to $26 per hour.

With 25th to 75th percentile making within range of $64,000-$91,000 before getting to senior level.

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How Much Do Geotechnical Engineers Make at the Senior Level?

Senior-level Geotechnical engineers make about $106,000 yearly on average. This represents the 90th percentile.

With 25th to 75th percentile making between $64,000-$91,000 yearly on average.

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Salary for Geotechnical Engineers in the US Based on Field

Job TitleAnnual SalaryMonthly SalaryHourly Rate
Civil Designer$66,655$5,555$32.05
Civil Engineering Internship$57,179$4,765$27.49
Structural Designer$68,867$5,739$33.11
Environmental Engineering Internship$42,349$3,529$20.36
Structural Engineering Internship$56,295$4,691$27.06
Structures Engineer$82,211$6,851$39.52
zippia.com

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Salaries of Geotechnical Engineers in the Top Industries in the U.S.

The salary of a Geotechnical engineer varies with the industry. This is because this role is more sought after or relevant in some particular industries than others.

1Construction$79,085
2Technology$77,665
3Manufacturing$77,636
4Government$77,418
5Professional$76,537
zippia.com

Are they other Benefits of Being a Geotechnical Engineer aside from the Salary?

These are a few of the other benefits you can enjoy asides the salary you’ll be making as a geotechnical engineer:

  • 401(k)
  • 401(k) matching
  • Dental Insurance
  • Disability insurance
  • Flexible schedule
  • Health insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Vision insurance.

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What are Geotechnical Engineering Job Prospects?

From an industrial standpoint, there are numerous consultancies and companies that hire engineers in their respective departments.

Some of them initially offer low-pay packages, but experience is extremely important in this field. After gaining the necessary knowledge and experience, one can also open their own private consultancy.

The general demand for civil engineers, currently, is rising. This is due to the general need in improving and remediate infrastructure, figure out how to deal with climate change, and generally with building facilities (plants and transportation systems) for new applications and in renovating old facilities for new applications.

Since geotechnical engineering is one of the core civil engineering disciplines, this will be one of the big challenges over the next 10, 20, and even 40 years.

This table will show how the salary of Geotechnical engineers have improved over time:

2022$76,700$36.90+1.7%
2021$75,400$36.27+0.5%
2020$75,100$36.09+2.2%
2019$73,500$35.31+1.5%
2018$72,400$34.80+1.6%
2017$71,200$34.25+0.2%
2016$71,100$34.18+1.6%
2015$70,000$33.65+1.8%
2014$68,700$33.05+1.7%
2013$67,600$32.49
zippia.com

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Conclusion

Do you really think these professionals go into this field of engineering for the money? Are you serious, man?

These are Civil Engineering’s elite brotherhoods… These Wizards do not enter this field to “create more.” They join because they are high priests of mathematical simulation of the unsimulatable real world, with crystal or brass balls.

Do you enjoy the challenge of constantly adapting solutions to the situation at hand, where no two problems are the same?.

Are you comfortable traveling, writing technical reports about your solutions, and simulating problems with computer programs?. Then this career path is something you should consider and as for the pay, just take care of the soil and you’ll also be taken care of.

FAQs

What Job Hazards do Geotechnical Engineers Face?

The most dangerous aspect of lab work is the possibility of crush injuries from the automated proctor hammer. There is also the possibility of pinch injuries from the soil testing apparatus. Slips, trips, and falls. Additional risks from inhaling lime or cement dust while performing certain tests.

Why is a Geotechnical Engineer Needed?

A Geotechnical Engineer is needed to;

  1. Design foundations of any structure to be built.
  2. Design and conduct site, soil, or Rock investigations to ascertain the bearing capacity of the red ground.
  3. Carry out testing for soil, Rock, and piles.

What is Geotechnical Engineering?

 Geotechnical engineering is a civil engineering branch focusing on soil and rock mechanics. It also includes the analysis, design, and construction of foundations, slopes, landfills, roadways, tunnels, and other infrastructure that rely on soil or rock.

What is the Importance of Geotechnical Engineering?

Geotechnical engineering principles should be applied to the design of pavement cross-sections to ensure proper subgrade drainage and that pavement cross-sections are otherwise detailed to provide long-term stability and ongoing serviceability with little or no maintenance.

Is Geotechnical Engineering in Demand?

Yes, geotechnical engineers are in demand.

One of the engineering specialties that is expanding the quickest is geotechnical engineering. Accordingly, The Better Business Bureau projects that employment in geoengineering will increase by 11% over the next ten to fifteen years, which is faster than the national average for job growth.

FAQs

What job hazards do geotechnical engineers face?

The most dangerous aspect of lab work is the possibility of crush injuries from the automated proctor hammer. There is also the possibility of pinch injuries from the soil testing apparatus. Slips, trips, and falls. Additional risks from inhaling lime or cement dust while performing certain tests.

Why is a geotechnical engineer needed?

A Geotechnical Engineer is needed to;

  1. Design foundations of any structure to be built.
  2. Design and conduct site, soil, or Rock investigations to ascertain the bearing capacity of the red ground.
  3. Carry out testing for soil, Rock, and piles.

What is geotechnical engineering?

 Geotechnical engineering is a civil engineering branch focusing on soil and rock mechanics. It also includes the analysis, design, and construction of foundations, slopes, landfills, roadways, tunnels, and other infrastructure that relies on soil or rock.

What is the importance of geotechnical engineering?

Geotechnical engineering principles should be applied to the design of pavement cross-sections to ensure proper subgrade drainage and that pavement cross-sections are otherwise detailed to provide long-term stability and ongoing serviceability with little or no maintenance.

Is geotechnical engineering in demand?

Yes, geotechnical engineers are in demand.

One of the engineering specialties that is expanding the quickest is geotechnical engineering. Accordingly, The Better Business Bureau projects that employment in geoengineering will increase by 11% over the next ten to fifteen years, which is faster than the national average for job growth.

References

  • zippia.com– Average Geotechnical Engineer Salary
  • indeed.com– Most common benefits for Geotechnical Engineers

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