Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers vs Materials Scientists: $102K vs $118K Median Pay

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers vs Materials Scientists: what changes?

Consider Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers if you want to study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. Consider Materials Scientists if you would rather research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers and Materials Scientists. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

National median pay (2025): $101,920
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Plan or conduct geological, geochemical, or geophysical field studies or surveys, sample collection, or drilling and testing programs used to collect data for research or application.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 1,800

Know before you choose

Review the full career brief for day-to-day working conditions.

See the full Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers brief

Materials Scientists

National median pay (2025): $117,790
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Conduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 600

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (8,600 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Materials Scientists brief

How the national numbers differ

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers has the edge on annual openings

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers is at 1,800 annual openings, compared with 600 annual openings for Materials Scientists.

Materials Scientists has the edge on projected growth

Materials Scientists is at 8.3% projected growth, compared with 5.1% projected growth for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers.

Typical preparation differs.

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers: Bachelor's degree Materials Scientists: Bachelor's degree Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Materials Scientists has the edge on median pay

Materials Scientists is at $117,790, compared with $101,920 for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers.

53.6/ 100

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

56/ 100

Materials Scientists

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers vs Materials Scientists

Dimension	Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers	Materials Scientists
Median pay (2025)	$101,920	$117,790
Pay percentile	84 percentile	89.1 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	5.1%	8.3%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	1,800	600
2025 employment	25,400	8,600
How you qualify	Bachelor's degree	Bachelor's degree
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 5	Job Zone 4
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers brief Read Materials Scientists brief

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers vs Materials Scientists: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

Materials Scientists

How the national numbers differ

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers has the edge on annual openings

Materials Scientists has the edge on projected growth

Typical preparation differs.

Materials Scientists has the edge on median pay

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers vs Materials Scientists

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