Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services — Average Employee Salary
The average employee in the geophysical surveying and mapping services industry earns $108,373 per year ($52.10/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.
What Do Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Workers Earn?
At $108,373/year (equivalent to $52.10/hour for a full-time worker), geophysical surveying and mapping services wages are significantly above the national average of ~$65,000.
Higher wages in this industry typically reflect specialized skills, professional certifications, or technical expertise required for the work. Employers competing for talent in this space face elevated labor costs.
The typical geophysical surveying and mapping services business employs 6 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.
Wages as a Percentage of Revenue
For the average geophysical surveying and mapping services business generating $1.3M/year with 6 employees at $108,373 each, total payroll represents roughly 49.2% of revenue. Labor is a significant cost but leaves room for other expenses and profit.
What This Means for Business Owners
If you're starting or running a geophysical surveying and mapping servicesbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:
- Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $140,885/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
- Typical team size: 6 employees = ~$650,238/year in base payroll.
- Hourly equivalent: $52.10/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
- Revenue needed: With average revenue of $1.3M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.
See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.
View full Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services revenue benchmarks →Frequently Asked Questions
- How much do geophysical surveying and mapping services employees make?
- The average geophysical surveying and mapping services employee earns $108,373 per year, which is equivalent to $52.10/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
- How many people work in the geophysical surveying and mapping services industry?
- The geophysical surveying and mapping services industry employs 13,983 workers across 2,463 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 6 employees.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).