AAPG
EXPLORER
EXPLORER
While the last year saw peaks and valleys for energy prices, salaries for petroleum geologists were relatively steady with some increase, according to the 2008-09 annual AAPG Salary Survey.
An overall weighted average pay increase of 2.04 percent was charted in 2008-09. The three previous annual salary surveys totaled a whopping 35 percent pay increase.
It took a drop in oil price from $145 to $50 last year to slow the pay train.
“The volatility and uncertainty of petroleum prices had a dampening effect on salaries,” said Mike Ayling, of MLA Resources in Tulsa, who has conducted the annual salary survey for AAPG since 1981.
YEARS EXPER
|
HIGH
|
AVERAGE
|
LOW
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-2 | $ 95,000 |
$ 83,600 |
$ 58,000 |
| 3-5 | 147,000 |
108,000 |
75,000 |
| 6-9 | 153,000 |
118,400 |
90,000 |
| 10-14 | 155,000 |
121,900 |
100,000 |
| 15-19 | 185,000 |
139,400 |
118,000 |
| 20-24 | 260,000 |
176,800 |
138,000 |
| 25+ | 250,000 |
171,700 |
105,000 |
Despite the quick fall, Ayling said the job market has not destabilized.
“Limited layoffs have occurred – largely in cutting consulting help,” he said. “There was less job movement, fewer raises and lower bonus expectations as the year progressed.”
The 0-2 and 3-5 year experience levels showed little change, but those categories contain relatively few individuals, Ayling said. He also noted that in 2008-09, over 46 percent of the salaries that were reported represent geoscientists with over 20 years experience.
Mid-experience salaries had a more normal progression than last year, while 20-plus year salaries showed a modest 5.4 percent increase, Ayling said.
The annual salary survey is based on employed, salaried geoscientists and is based on salaries alone. It does not include bonuses, employee benefits, autos or other perquisites.
YEARS EXPER
|
B.S. |
M.S.
|
Ph.D. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-2 | $ 73,000 |
$ 88,800 |
$ 95,000 |
| 3-5 | 88,300 |
112,000 |
147,000 |
| 6-9 | 90,000 |
141,400 |
105,000 |
| 10-14 | 102,500 |
122,900 |
155,000 |
| 15-19 | 124,300 |
166,500 |
134,900 |
| 20-24 | 147,500 |
172,300 |
215,000 |
| 25+ | 162,300 |
179,000 |
150,000 |
It does not attempt to include anyone whose compensation is in the form of consulting fees, retainers or overrides.
The purpose of the survey is to provide a yardstick for those interested in assessing their compensation, and Ayling strongly feels that compensation is often a secondary consideration when evaluating overall job satisfaction.
The survey also is based on U.S. salaries only, considered the “gold standard” for the industry. The measurement for international salaries for explorationists is virtually on a country-by-country, case-by-case basis, Ayling said, which makes statistical averaging non-productive beyond the boundaries of any specific country.
Ayling added that many ex-pats are paid U.S.-based salaries, while the national oil companies opt to pay compatriots on a different, lower scale.
As for the job market, Ayling said, “Most everyone remains very conservative in their staffing decisions. I think that’s what we can expect until there is some price recovery – especially gas.”
YRS EXP |
2000-01 |
2001-02 |
2002-03 |
2003-04 |
2004-05 |
2005-06 |
2006-07 |
2007-08 |
2008-09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-2 | $ 59,700 |
$ 64,000 |
$ 65,000 |
$ 65,600 |
$ 67,800 |
$ 74,400 |
$ 82,200 |
$ 82,800 |
$ 83,600 |
| 3-5 | 66,000 |
67,500 |
71,200 |
67,700 |
75,600 |
81,300 |
89,600 |
107,800 |
108,000 |
| 6-9 | 74,200 |
74,500 |
78,300 |
75,700 |
78,800 |
95,400 |
98,500 |
121,100 |
118,400 |
| 10-14 | 89,400 |
95,000 |
96,600 |
91,900 |
107,500 |
114,400 |
111,500 |
119,800 |
121,900 |
| 15-19 | 100,600 |
99,400 |
102,500 |
102,500 |
116,000 |
119,600 |
141,000 |
151,600 |
139,400 |
| 20-24 | 111,700 |
111,600 |
113,900 |
118,100 |
112,800 |
139,000 |
155,000 |
167,400 |
176,800 |
| 25+ | 117,300 |
124,000 |
126,900 |
125,100 |
128,300 |
134,100 |
149,900 |
162,800 |
171,700 |
