What types of positions do entry-level hydrogeologists usually get?
What’s the average salary for this level? With a bachelor’s degree, the majority of opportunities are with environmental consulting firms. Entry level positions typically involve field work to construct and sample monitoring wells at sites of contamination or new municipal wells. With a master’s degree, positions in environmental consulting likely include a combination of field work, data analysis and modeling, plus development of proposals and preparation of reports. B.S. graduates may sometimes also find technician level positions with research organizations such as the U.S. Geological Survey. In general, M.S. graduates find expanded opportunities with more responsibility at the USGS or with state or federal agencies such as a state geological survey, a department of natural resources or the EPA. According to a publication of the American Geological Institute, salaries for college graduates with bachelor’s degrees start at about $29,000 and starting salaries for geoscientists with ma