How to Become a Geoscientist in South Carolina: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median geoscientist salary in South Carolina is $86,070 per year - 16% 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 South Carolina
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 South Carolina
The education path is national - Bachelor’s in geology or geoscience (master’s preferred for some research roles) - while licensing runs through the South Carolina state board of professional geologists: State PG (Professional Geologist) license for consulting sign-off in many states. Verify current requirements with the South Carolina state board of professional geologists before enrolling, as details change.
Geoscientist Salary in South Carolina
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| South Carolina entry level (10th percentile) | $47,550 |
| South Carolina 25th-75th percentile | $63,430 - $123,090 |
| South Carolina median | $86,070 |
| South Carolina top earners (90th percentile) | $141,480 |
| U.S. median | $101,920 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 230.
The South Carolina Job Market: Geoscientist
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in South Carolina | 230 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.10 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.65 |
| Mean annual wage in South Carolina | $91,120 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.65, South Carolina 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 South Carolina?
The median annual wage for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in South Carolina is $86,070 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 16% below the national median of $101,920.
How to become a geoscientist in South Carolina?
The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in geology or geoscience (master's preferred for some research roles) - with licensing through the South Carolina 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 South Carolina?
BLS counts about 230 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers employed in South Carolina (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Geoscientist in Nearby States
- Geoscientist in Pennsylvania
- Geoscientist in Rhode Island
- Geoscientist in South Dakota
- Geoscientist in Tennessee
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (SOC 19-2042), South Carolina 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) |