Salary and Benefits

• The salary of a paleontologist varies widely by the sub-field you pursue. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average wage for employees in the category "Geoscientists and Hydrologists" was $79,160 as of 2008. Most who are employed in this position also work for a museum or university and enjoy a variety of benefits from health insurance to a pension. Entry-level employees in this profession average $41,700 per year according to BLS statistics.
  
  

Education and Experience

• Education and experience can contribute a great deal to your pay as an paleontologist. As you publish your findings in academic journals, you'll gain prestige in the field. As you continue to contribute to the world's body of knowledge, you may become a reputable source in the field. When you've attained your Ph.D. and have written your published dissertation, you'll command a higher salary in a university or museum setting. Many paleontologists will also teach in a university as a primary income source when not working in a research facility.
  
  

Work Environment

• Paleontology tends to be dirty work, most notably when digging fossils. The BLS describes the paleontologist as one who will "study fossils found in geological formations to trace the evolution of plant and animal life and the geologic history of the Earth." Experienced paleontologists will spend more time examining items found in the field and documenting them in context than will entry-level paleontologists. Specialists such as industrial paleontologists, hired typically by oil companies, may enjoy higher pay.
  
  

Job Outlook

• The BLS estimates that the job category will grow by 18 percent by 2018. While this number seems large, there are relatively few employed in the field. Traditional research positions in the study of fossils will likely remain low in comparison to positions in the oil industry, in which paleontologists help find oil reserves. Most of the true fossil diggers will be hired to replace retiring researchers, or to work on new finds.