A person working as a Petroleum Geologist in Cook Islands typically earns around 7,490 NZD per month. Salaries range from 3,450 NZD (lowest) to 11,900 NZD (highest).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Petroleum Geologist salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Petroleum Geologist salaries in Cook Islands range from 3,450 NZD per month (minimum salary) to 11,900 NZD per month (maximum salary).
The median salary is 8,090 NZD per month, which means that half (50%) of people working as Petroleum Geologist(s) are earning less than 8,090 NZD while the other half are earning more than 8,090 NZD. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of Petroleum Geologist(s) are earning less than 5,190 NZD while 75% of them are earning more than 5,190 NZD. Also from the diagram, 75% of Petroleum Geologist(s) are earning less than 10,800 NZD while 25% are earning more than 10,800 NZD.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher your wage. We broke down Petroleum Geologist salaries by experience level and this is what we found.
A Petroleum Geologist with less than two years of experience makes approximately 3,910 NZD per month.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 5,220 NZD per month, 34% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 7,720 NZD per month, 48% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, Petroleum Geologist(s) whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 9,420 NZD per month, 22% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 10,300 NZD per month, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 11,100 NZD per month, 8% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
0 - 2 Years | 3,910 NZD | |
2 - 5 Years | +34% | 5,220 NZD |
5 - 10 Years | +48% | 7,720 NZD |
10 - 15 Years | +22% | 9,420 NZD |
15 - 20 Years | +9% | 10,300 NZD |
20+ Years | +8% | 11,100 NZD |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down Petroleum Geologist salaries by education level in order to make a comparison.
When the education level is Bachelor's Degree, the average salary of a Petroleum Geologist is 4,460 NZD per month.
While someone with a Master's Degree gets a salary of 7,000 NZD per month, 57% more than someone having a Bachelor's Degree degree.
A PhD gets its holder an average salary of 11,700 NZD per month, 68% more than someone with a Master's Degree.
Bachelor's Degree | 4,460 NZD | |
Master's Degree | +57% | 7,000 NZD |
PhD | +68% | 11,700 NZD |
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Cook Islands costs anywhere from 23,500 New Zealand Dollar(s) to 70,600 New Zealand Dollar(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support the thoery. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
If you can afford the costs of higher education, the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male Petroleum Geologist employees in Cook Islands earn 19% more than their female counterparts on average.
Male | 8,150 NZD | |
Female | -16% | 6,840 NZD |
Petroleum Geologist(s) in Cook Islands are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 29 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 4% granted to employees every 29 months.
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
Banking | 6% | |
Energy | 3% | |
Information Technology | 9% | |
Healthcare | 6% | |
Travel | 3% | |
Construction | 9% | |
Education | 6% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Cook Islands for the year 2022. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
A Petroleum Geologist is considered to be a moderate bonus-based job due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
57% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 43% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 2% to 7% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 43% | |
No Bonus | 57% |
The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
The average salary for Petroleum Geologist is 77% more than that of Oil / Gas / Energy / Mining. Also, Oil / Gas / Energy / Mining salaries are 10% less than those of All Jobs.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Assistant Yard Manager | 4,120 NZD | ![]() |
Associate Analyst | 4,690 NZD | ![]() |
Associate Landman | 1,970 NZD | ![]() |
Auxiliary Equipment Operator | 1,780 NZD | ![]() |
Biomass Plant Technician | 2,070 NZD | ![]() |
Biomass Power Plant Manager | 6,250 NZD | ![]() |
Chemical Plant Operator | 3,580 NZD | ![]() |
Chief Contract Compliance Engineer | 4,530 NZD | ![]() |
Completions Engineer | 3,910 NZD | ![]() |
Cost Controller | 3,140 NZD | ![]() |
Crude Oil Marketing Representative | 4,690 NZD | ![]() |
Dispatcher | 1,880 NZD | ![]() |
Distribution Manager | 5,810 NZD | ![]() |
Dragline Operator | 2,070 NZD | ![]() |
Driller Offsider | 1,490 NZD | ![]() |
Dump Truck Driver | 1,650 NZD | ![]() |
Electric and Gas Operations Manager | 9,460 NZD | ![]() |
Energy Advisor | 6,450 NZD | ![]() |
Energy Analyst | 5,920 NZD | ![]() |
Energy Auditor | 5,490 NZD | ![]() |
Energy Dispatch Director | 7,500 NZD | ![]() |
Energy Technical Assistant | 2,770 NZD | ![]() |
Energy Technical Manager | 5,240 NZD | ![]() |
Energy Technical Trainer | 3,730 NZD | ![]() |
Exploration Manager | 7,240 NZD | ![]() |
Field Safety Auditor | 4,600 NZD | ![]() |
Fluids Engineer | 4,040 NZD | ![]() |
Fuel Cell Engineer | 4,640 NZD | ![]() |
Fuel Cell Technician | 2,110 NZD | ![]() |
Fuels Handler | 2,030 NZD | ![]() |
Gas Compressor Operator | 1,850 NZD | ![]() |
Gas Distribution Plant Operator | 3,600 NZD | ![]() |
Gas Supply Manager | 6,310 NZD | ![]() |
Geologist | 7,850 NZD | ![]() |
Geophysicist | 7,500 NZD | ![]() |
Geothermal Production Manager | 7,640 NZD | ![]() |
Geothermal Technician | 2,980 NZD | ![]() |
HSE Engineer | 4,280 NZD | ![]() |
HSE Officer | 2,740 NZD | ![]() |
HSEQ Administrator | 2,970 NZD | ![]() |
Inspector | 3,870 NZD | ![]() |
Instructor | 3,350 NZD | ![]() |
Instrument Designer | 3,440 NZD | ![]() |
Lead Technical Field Advisor | 5,390 NZD | ![]() |
Logistics and Tool Coordinator | 3,650 NZD | ![]() |
Maintenance Engineer | 4,550 NZD | ![]() |
Maintenance Superintendent | 3,830 NZD | ![]() |
Material Controller | 2,970 NZD | ![]() |
Mine Engineer | 4,020 NZD | ![]() |
Mine Surveyor | 4,590 NZD | ![]() |
Mining Project Administrator | 3,790 NZD | ![]() |
Mining Project Assistant | 2,880 NZD | ![]() |
Mining Project Controls Consultant | 4,790 NZD | ![]() |
Mining Project Coordinator | 3,830 NZD | ![]() |
Mining Project Engineer | 4,210 NZD | ![]() |
Mining Project Manager | 5,320 NZD | ![]() |
Mining Site Manager | 5,890 NZD | ![]() |
Mining Team Leader | 4,500 NZD | ![]() |
NDT Technician | 2,510 NZD | ![]() |
Oil Service Unit Operator | 2,150 NZD | ![]() |
Oil Trader | 5,270 NZD | ![]() |
Oilwell Pumper | 1,650 NZD | ![]() |
Petroleum Engineer | 4,650 NZD | ![]() |
Petroleum Geologist | 7,490 NZD | ![]() |
Petroleum Pump System Operator | 2,460 NZD | ![]() |
Pipeline Technician | 1,680 NZD | ![]() |
Power Coordinator | 2,630 NZD | ![]() |
Power Plant Operations Manager | 8,190 NZD | ![]() |
Power Plant Operator | 3,500 NZD | ![]() |
Radio Operator | 1,900 NZD | ![]() |
Reliability Engineer | 4,280 NZD | ![]() |
Reservoir Engineer | 4,040 NZD | ![]() |
Risk Analyst | 5,470 NZD | ![]() |
Roughneck | 4,570 NZD | ![]() |
Scaffolder | 2,920 NZD | ![]() |
Shutdown Engineer | 3,510 NZD | ![]() |
Solar Energy Installation Manager | 6,160 NZD | ![]() |
Solar Energy Systems Engineer | 4,560 NZD | ![]() |
Solar Photovoltaic Installer | 2,740 NZD | ![]() |
Solar Thermal Technician | 2,740 NZD | ![]() |
Supply Operations Manager | 6,670 NZD | ![]() |
Sustainability Specialist | 7,160 NZD | ![]() |
System Development Advisor | 4,980 NZD | ![]() |
Tanker Truck Driver | 1,660 NZD | ![]() |
Utility Operator | 2,210 NZD | ![]() |
Wind Energy Project Manager | 5,840 NZD | ![]() |
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Cook Islands earn 14% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 4,330 NZD | |
Public Sector | +14% | 4,950 NZD |