<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-02-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000799165</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DAWSON GEOPHYSICAL CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DWSN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001212387</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOOVER GARY M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>508 W. WALL, SUITE 800</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIDLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>79701</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock $0.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-02-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25210</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On February 11, 2015, Dawson Operating Company, previously known as Dawson Geophysical Company (the &quot;Predecessor&quot;), merged into a subsidiary of Dawson Geophysical Company, previously known as TGC Industries, Inc. (the &quot;Issuer&quot;) (the &quot;Merger&quot;). In connection with the Merger, each share of the Predecessor's common stock, par value $0.33 1/3 per share, was converted into the right to receive 1.760 shares of the Issuer's common stock, par value $0.01 per share, after giving effect to a 1-for-3 reverse stock split of the Issuer's common stock, which occurred immediately prior to the Merger.  On the effective date of the Merger, the closing price of the Predecessor's common stock was $10.23, and the closing price of the Issuer's common stock was $1.95, before giving effect to the 1-for-3 reverse stock split of the Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gary M. Hoover</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-02-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
