2025 Minnesota Ground Water Association Salary Survey

The 2025 Minnesota Ground Water Association salary survey was open from mid-September 2025 through mid-March 2026 and gathered 34 responses. Given the relatively low number of responses, caution is urged in drawing conclusions from the results. However, some high-level analysis is presented here. The overall median pay of survey respondents is in the $100,000 to $110,000 pay band. There was an approximately 3:2 ratio of male-to-female-identifying respondents, with the median male-identifying respondent making approximately $15,000 more. Around three-quarters of respondents have Geology or Earth Sciences degrees. About half have Bachelor’s Degrees and half have a Master’s or Doctoral degree, with no difference in median pay. Median salary generally increases with years of experience, advancement of job level, and acquisition of a Professional Geologist license. State government workers’ median base salary is less than that of consultants, but so is their median years of experience. Nearly all respondents are able to work from home at least part-time. All respondents reported employer contributions to a pension benefit, retirement savings account, or both. Graphs and tables below further visualize the results.

More Detailed Results

The graph below summarizes the number of respondents reporting base salaries in $10,000 pay band intervals. All respondents make at least $60,000, with the highest reported base salary being $180,000 to $190,000. Values are not reported in tables for categories with a single response.

Education

The median base salary for both those with bachelor’s degrees and those with a master’s or doctoral degree is $100,000–$109,999.

Highest Level of Education Completed	Count (of 34)
Bachelor’s degree (or 4-year equivalent)	15
Master’s degree (or equivalent)	16
Doctoral degree (or equivalent)	3

Approximately three-quarters of respondents have a degree in Geology/Earth Science.

Gender Identity

Of 34 respondents, 59% identified as male and 41% as female. The median base salary for male respondents was $105,000–$114,999 and for female respondents was $90,000–$99,999.

Experience and Job Level

Median salary generally increases with years of experience, with large jumps at around the 10- and 20-year marks.

Years of Experience	Count (of 34)	Median Base Salary
0-5	6	$70,000-$79,999
6-10	3	$70,000-$79,999
11-20	12	$100,000-$109,999
21-30	9	$140,000-$149,999
31-40	2	$120,000-$129,999

Large jumps in median salary occur moving from mid-level to senior-level employee and moving to a supervisory or managerial role.

Job Level	Count (of 34)	Median Base Salary
Entry-level employee	2	$60,000-$69,999
Mid-level employee	9	$70,000-$79,999
Senior-level employee	15	$100,000-$109,999
Supervisor	5	$120,000-$129,999
Manager	2	$135,000-$144,999
Owner, Partner, or Organizational Head	1	Not Reported

Job Sector

Over half of respondents work in state government. Median salary for state agency employees is less than consulting firm employees, though the median years of experience is a decade lower for state agency employees. Other sectors had low response rates.

Job Sector	Count (of 34)	Median Base Salary	Median Years of Experience
Consulting Firm	7	$140,000-$149,999	21-30
County Agency	2	$60,000-$69,999	0-5
Federal Agency	2	$130,000-$139,999	21-30
Industry	2	$140,000-$149,999	26-35
Research Organization	1	Not Reported	Not Reported
State Agency	20	$90,000-$99,999	11-20

Professional Geologist (PG)/Engineer (PE) Licensure

Fourteen people responded that they have a PG license and three have a PE license. The median salary of PG/PE holders is approximately $55,000 higher than those who do not.

In addition to the Professional Geologist (PG) and Professional Engineer (PE) licenses and their associated Geologist/Engineer-in-Training statuses, respondents reported other licensures including:

• Educator,
• Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP),
• American Institute of Professional Geologists Certified Professional Geologist (CPG),
• American Institute of Hydrology Professional Hydrologist,
• Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS).

Work Location

Nearly three-quarters of respondents primarily work in the Twin Cities metro area.  All but 4 of 34 respondents work from home/remotely at least occasionally, with most respondents reporting that they work from home/remotely either half-time or less than half the time.

Benefits

All respondents reported medical insurance being offered by their employer, with nearly all having employer contributions to the costs. Dental, vision, and life insurance, short- and long-term disability, and pensions, retirement savings accounts, and pre-tax medical expense plans are also commonly offered by many respondents’ employers. All respondents reported employer contributions to either a pension, retirement savings account, or both.

Professional Organization Membership

Respondents reported membership with a variety of other professional organizations.

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