A mining site where a mud logger works
A mud logger is a geological technician who uses equipment to drill into the ground and find resources such as gas, coal, petroleum and minerals. These professionals analyze, collect and report data from each drilling site to assist organizations in finding areas to extract natural resources. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated the wages for mud loggers under the occupational title of geological and petroleum technicians in May 2010.
Qualifications
Most employers require a bachelor's degree in geology, petroleum engineering or a related discipline. The job of a mud logger is physically demanding. It requires the ability to lift and move heavy objects over 50 lbs., and work in all types of weather conditions. Work often requires living on-site and being on-call 24 hours.
Salary
An estimated 13,560 geological and petroleum technicians worked in the U.S. in May 2010. The median salary was $54,020 per year. The 25th percentile earned $38,990 per year and the 75th percentile earned $73,910 per year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,950 per year and the highest 10 percent earned more than $99,860 per year.
Hourly Wages
Because of the demands of the job, some mud loggers earn hourly wages and overtime wages for working over 40 hours per week. The median hourly wage was $25.97. The 25th percentile earned $18.75 per hour and the 75th percentile earned $35.53 per hour. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $14.40 per hour and the highest 10 percent earned more than $48.01 per hour. Median overtime wages were $38.96 per hour.
Industries
Mud loggers work in a variety of industries related to extracting natural resources. The highest levels of employment were in the oil and gas extraction industry, where the average salary was $65,290 per year or $31.39 per hour. Those working in industries related to support activities for mining earned an average salary of $53,780 or $25.86 per hour. The highest wages were in the petroleum and coal products manufacturing industry, where mud loggers earned an average salary of $100,540 per year or $48.34 per hour.
Location
Geological and petroleum occupations are in specific areas throughout the U.S., including areas with an abundance of natural resources for mining and drilling. Some of these professionals also work in areas involved with development and finding natural resources to create living environments for the general population. The highest salaries were in the Las Vegas, Nevada, area, where the average salary was $98,960 per year or $47.58 per hour. In Anchorage, Alaska, the average salary was $83,480 per year or $40.14 per hour. In the Houston, Texas, area, the average salary was $69,590 per year or $33.46 per hour and in the Albany, New York, area, the average salary was $70,520 or $33.91 per hour.
