How to Become a Geoscientist in Maine: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median geoscientist salary in Maine is $86,840 per year - 15% below the national median of $101,920 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: Bachelor’s in geology or geoscience (master’s preferred for some research roles).
How to Become a Geoscientist in Maine
1. Earn a geology bachelor’s
Geology or geoscience; field camp is the standard capstone.
2. Use field experience
Rig, mining, or environmental-drilling time reads as field competence employers otherwise have to train.
3. Start as a wellsite or staff geologist
Energy, mining, environmental consulting, and government surveys all hire at the bachelor’s level.
4. Pursue PG licensure
Required in many states to sign geological reports; ASBOG exams plus experience.
5. Specialize
Petroleum, hydrogeology, environmental, or mining geology.
Requirements in Maine
The education path is national - Bachelor’s in geology or geoscience (master’s preferred for some research roles) - while licensing runs through the Maine state board of professional geologists: State PG (Professional Geologist) license for consulting sign-off in many states. Verify current requirements with the Maine state board of professional geologists before enrolling, as details change.
Geoscientist Salary in Maine
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Maine entry level (10th percentile) | $73,380 |
| Maine 25th-75th percentile | $79,350 - $99,710 |
| Maine median | $86,840 |
| Maine top earners (90th percentile) | $131,530 |
| U.S. median | $101,920 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 70.
The Maine Job Market: Geoscientist
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Maine | 70 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.10 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.67 |
| Mean annual wage in Maine | $91,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.67, Maine employs geoscientists at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $59,330 |
| 25th | $75,110 |
| 50th (median) | $101,920 |
| 75th | $139,380 |
| 90th | $200,230 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 25,100 |
| 2034 projected | 26,000 |
| Percent change | +3.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a geoscientist make in Maine?
The median annual wage for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in Maine is $86,840 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 15% below the national median of $101,920.
How to become a geoscientist in Maine?
The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in geology or geoscience (master's preferred for some research roles) - with licensing through the Maine state board of professional geologists: State PG (Professional Geologist) license for consulting sign-off in many states. See the steps on this page.
How many geoscientists work in Maine?
BLS counts about 70 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers employed in Maine (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Geoscientist in Nearby States
- Geoscientist in Kentucky
- Geoscientist in Louisiana
- Geoscientist in Maryland
- Geoscientist in Massachusetts
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (SOC 19-2042), Maine and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |