Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services Revenue Benchmarks
The average geophysical surveying and mapping services business in the United States generates $1.3M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 942 geophysical surveying and mapping services businesses in the U.S., employing 6,907 workers with an average profit margin of 22.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $108K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Business Actually Do?
Geophysical surveyors using seismic, gravity, and magnetic techniques — mostly for oil/gas exploration, mining, and large construction geotechnical work.
Who buys: Oil & gas producers, mining companies, large construction projects, government.
Average Revenue
$1.3M
per year
Profit Margin
22.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$180K
per year
Total Businesses
942
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$291K
small business avg
Labor Cost
50.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$108K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.3
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services Charge?
Geophysical surveyors use seismic, gravity, and magnetic methods for oil/gas, mining, and construction site work.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Small geotech survey | $5,000–25,000 |
Mid-size survey (utilities, construction) | $25,000–200,000 |
Large seismic survey (oil/gas) | $500,000–20,000,000+ |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete geophysical surveying and mapping business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a geophysical surveying and mapping services business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the geophysical surveying and mapping services industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Client-related expenses | $4 | $56K | Software licenses, subscriptions, printing, filing fees, travel billed to clients. |
Wages & benefits | $50 | $661K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $74K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $56K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $14 | $185K | Professional liability insurance, continuing education, tech, admin support. |
Net profit | $22 | $291K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
9.05%
openings/year
Closure Rate
8.48%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+4.14%
annual
Businesses Closed
6,584
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Business?
Startup Cost
$10K – $75K
Break-Even
2 months
5-Year Survival Rate
60.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a geophysical surveying and mapping services business do?
- Geophysical surveyors using seismic, gravity, and magnetic techniques — mostly for oil/gas exploration, mining, and large construction geotechnical work. Oil & gas producers, mining companies, large construction projects, government.
- How much do geophysical surveying and mapping services charge?
- Geophysical surveyors use seismic, gravity, and magnetic methods for oil/gas, mining, and construction site work. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average geophysical surveying and mapping services make per year?
- The average geophysical surveying and mapping services business generates $1.3M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $291K per year at a 22.0% profit margin.
- How many geophysical surveying and mapping services businesses are there in the US?
- There are 942 geophysical surveying and mapping services businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 6,907 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a geophysical surveying and mapping services business?
- Startup costs for a geophysical surveying and mapping services business typically range from $10K to $75K, with a 5-year survival rate of 60.0%.
- What is the average salary in the geophysical surveying and mapping services industry?
- The average employee in the geophysical surveying and mapping services industry earns $108K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The geophysical surveying and mapping services industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 4.1% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (9.1% entry vs 8.5% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 64% of geophysical surveying and mapping services businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 6,584 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the geophysical surveying and mapping services industry earns $108,373/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 2,463 establishments employing 13,983 people, the typical business has about 6 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The geophysical surveying and mapping services industry has grown 0% since 2000 (from 82,400 to 82,804 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services revenue with other industries: