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Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians pay in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA and Waco, TX
The May 2025 BLS OEWS median for Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians is $82,350 per year in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. It is $41,310 per year in Waco, TX. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA is 99.3% above Waco, TX 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 80 wage and salary jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA and 40 in Waco, TX. 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