Geotechnical Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Geotechnical Engineer make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for a Geotechnical Engineer in the United States is $75,161 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

However, a Geotechnical Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $89,656
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $68,151 to $82,748
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $61,768
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View as table View as graph 25% $68,151 10% $61,768 90% $89,656 75% $82,748 $75,161 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Geotechnical Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $82,748 $6,896 $1,591 $40
Average $75,161 $6,263 $1,445 $36
25th Percentile $68,151 $5,679 $1,311 $33
Check out Geotechnical Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Geotechnical Engineer

Success Matcher Recruitment, LLC - , OH

Senior Geotechnical Design Engineer

LVI Associates - Cleveland, OH

Sr. Geotechnical Engineer

Bowser-Morner, Inc. - Toledo, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Geotechnical Engineer Salaries

A Geotechnical Engineer'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

Top Paying Cities for Geotechnical Engineers

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:

  • San Jose: $94,800
  • San Francisco: $93,868
  • Oakland: $91,786

What Skills Can Increase a Geotechnical Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Consulting (Mentioned in 11.03% Job Postings): Providing technical or business expertise and advice to internal or external clients.
  • Laboratory Testing (Mentioned in 3.18% Job Postings): Performing medical procedures and testing of blood and urine samples or body substances to determine appropriate diagnosis and treatments.
  • AutoCAD (Mentioned in 1.87% Job Postings): AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design and drafting software application. Developed and marketed by Autodesk, AutoCAD was first released in December 1982 as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Consulting 11.03%
Laboratory Testing 3.18%
AutoCAD 1.87%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Geotechnical Engineer's salary.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Exploration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Engineering Services: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Leadership
$78,919
5%
Exploration
$78,167
4%
Engineering Services
$78,167
4%
AutoCAD
$77,415
3%
Civil Engineering
$77,415
3%
Design Engineering
$77,415
3%
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How Education impacts a Geotechnical Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Geotechnical Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Geotechnical Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $71,037 and $74,577).

Geotechnical Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Geotechnical Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 33.9%
Associates 0.8%
Bachelors 33.9%
Masters 57.9%
Doctorate 7.4%
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Geotechnical Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Geotechnical Engineer'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.

Last Updated on May 18, 2021

Salary Trends for Geotechnical Engineer

Salaries for a Geotechnical Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $84,146 in 2023 to around $77,668 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Geotechnical Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Geotechnical Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$84,146
2024
$81,164
2025
$77,668
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $84,146
2024 $81,164
2025 $77,668
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Geotechnical Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Geotechnical Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Geotechnical Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Geotechnical Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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