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Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians pay in Fargo, ND-MN and San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
The May 2025 BLS OEWS median for Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians is $51,240 per year in Fargo, ND-MN. It is $82,350 per year in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. Fargo, ND-MN is 37.8% below San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA on the published median.
Both rows use SOC 19-4043 and the same annual wage metric. Median means the middle of each area's published wage spread. It is not one worker's pay. The larger median is not proof that one place gives a better job or a better result. It is one wage fact from one source period.
BLS lists Not published wage and salary jobs in Fargo, ND-MN and 80 in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. Those are survey job counts, not open posts. Read pay, job scale, local share, and price level as separate facts before you make a choice.
Evidence: bls-oews-may-2025 · Rule: same-soc-same-metric-pair · nominal-median-gap · employment-not-openings
