SOC 19-2042 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · May 2025

How much do Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers make in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?

In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN is $83,970. The 10th percentile is $60,260 and the 90th percentile is $126,440. Employment is 90.

Median annual wage

$83,970

10th percentile
$60,260
25th percentile
$68,890
Median
$83,970
75th percentile
$105,670
90th percentile
$126,440
Mean
$89,320

Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

A scientist working at a laboratory bench
A scientist in a laboratory. Photograph by Mark Shwartz, Stanford ENERGY. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5

Percentile spread

For Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers, the published 10th percentile is $60,260 and the 90th percentile is $126,440. The difference is $66,180, which is 78.8% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.

The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $68,890 to the 75th at $105,670, covers $36,780.

The mean annual wage is $89,320, which sits above the median of $83,970. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN median is 17.6% lower than the national median of $101,920 for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers. In 2024 national prices the local median is $87,162, which is 14.5% lower than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is 7.8% higher than the Tennessee median of $77,870.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN is 96.338, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $83,970 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers at $87,162 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

3 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers. Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN ranks 1st of 4 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).

  • Chattanooga, TN-GA is 105 miles away, with a median of $63,270 and employment of 40. That median is 24.7% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $69,175, against $87,162 here.
  • Knoxville, TN is 145 miles away, with a median of $77,870 and employment of 50. That median is 7.3% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $84,121, against $87,162 here.
  • Lexington-Fayette, KY is 188 miles away, with a median of $67,700 and employment of 70. That median is 19.4% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $72,883, against $87,162 here.

Employment share

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers accounts for 0.01% of wage-and-salary employment in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (90 of 1,099,300). Nationally the occupation is 0.02% of employment (23,470 of 155,495,730). The local share is 0.54 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.

Highest-paying jobs in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN · Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers by metro · How to read these percentiles · Median and mean · When a wage is not published · How the figures are made · Compare this wage after prices

Questions this page answers

How much do Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers make in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?

In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN is $83,970. The 10th percentile is $60,260 and the 90th percentile is $126,440. Employment is 90.

How does that compare with the national median for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers?

The local median is 17.6% lower than the national median of $101,920.

What is Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers pay in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN after local prices?

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN is 96.338, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $83,970 is $87,162. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.

How does Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN compare with nearby metros for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers?

Chattanooga, TN-GA is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 105 miles away, at $63,270. Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN ranks 1st of 4 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.