It's very unlikely that the average person could even explain what a geophysicist does, let alone what they'd expect them to earn. It's a word we've all seen before, and we know it has something to do with science and rocks, but that's about all most people know. Geophysicists do indeed study rocks, but that's only part of their occupation. They play a vital role in combating pollution, and predicting earthquakes and other seismic events.
Understanding the chemical composition of the planet we live on gives us vital clues about not only its history but its future. If we know what conditions inside a volcano look like just before it erupts, for example, we can predict that eruption and move people to safety. That's why geophysics is so important! As you might expect with a scientific role, you'll need a master's degree to reach the top 10% in this industry, and excellent literary skills to both read and create scientific papers.