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Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians: apprenticeship hours and pay
O*NET-SOC 19-4043.00
Approved apprenticeship titles
2 apprenticeship titles on the Department of Labor's approved list fall under Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians, trained competency-based, hybrid, time-based. The shortest approved term is 4,000 hours, for TEST ENGINE OPERATOR (competency-based).
| Title | RAPIDS code | Approach and term |
|---|---|---|
| TEST ENGINE OPERATOR | 0482 | Competency-Based: 4,000 hours Hybrid: 4,000 to 5,000 hours Time-Based: 4,000 hours |
| TESTER (Petrol Refin) | 0956 | Competency-Based: 6,000 hours Hybrid: 6,000 to 7,500 hours Time-Based: 6,000 hours |
Time-based programs count hours on the job; competency-based programs move on when the apprentice shows the skills; hybrid programs use both, within a range of hours (29 CFR 29.5(b)(2)). Each registered program sets its own term inside what the approved title allows.
What geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians earn, by state
Maryland has the highest state median for geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians ($102,090) and Georgia the lowest ($34,710), across the 35 states with a published figure.
| State | Median pay | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $102,090 | $49.08 | 30 |
| Indiana | $79,290 | $38.12 | Not published |
| Alaska | $76,090 | $36.58 | 70 |
| Nevada | $73,700 | $35.43 | 260 |
| California | $69,410 | $33.37 | 480 |
| West Virginia | $69,350 | $33.34 | 60 |
| Washington | $63,910 | $30.73 | Not published |
| Nebraska | $63,160 | $30.37 | Not published |
| Wyoming | $63,070 | $30.32 | 90 |
| Tennessee | $63,050 | $30.31 | 110 |
| Colorado | $61,780 | $29.70 | 90 |
| Massachusetts | $61,630 | $29.63 | 40 |
| New Mexico | $59,520 | $28.62 | Not published |
| Virginia | $59,290 | $28.50 | Not published |
| Louisiana | $59,120 | $28.42 | 160 |
| Michigan | $58,860 | $28.30 | 150 |
| New York | $57,150 | $27.48 | 280 |
| Montana | $55,520 | $26.69 | 100 |
| Oregon | $55,090 | $26.49 | 70 |
| Illinois | $53,280 | $25.62 | 80 |
| South Carolina | $53,160 | $25.56 | 90 |
| Kansas | $52,430 | $25.21 | Not published |
| North Dakota | $51,240 | $24.64 | 90 |
| Arizona | $50,160 | $24.11 | Not published |
| Florida | $49,980 | $24.03 | 300 |
| Kentucky | $49,840 | $23.96 | 60 |
| Ohio | $48,890 | $23.51 | 130 |
| North Carolina | $48,090 | $23.12 | 250 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,380 | $22.78 | 240 |
| Arkansas | $47,250 | $22.72 | 30 |
| Oklahoma | $46,890 | $22.54 | 410 |
| Texas | $46,840 | $22.52 | 2,190 |
| Idaho | $46,680 | $22.44 | 70 |
| Alabama | $35,670 | $17.15 | Not published |
| Georgia | $34,710 | $16.69 | 30 |
Finding a program
The public sponsor file names the organizations that run registered apprenticeships but not the occupations each one trains, so this guide names no sponsor. Search apprenticeship.gov's Apprenticeship Finder for this title, or ask your American Job Center which local programs train it.
Apprenticeship sponsors by state (25,633) · All approved occupations
Sources: apprenticeship.gov approved occupations list (Last-Modified October 8, 2026); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (all industries; blanks are figures BLS does not publish).