Geographers

Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed

Study the nature and use of areas of the Earth's surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena. Conduct research on physical aspects of a region, including land forms, climates, soils, plants, and animals, and conduct research on the spatial implications of human activities within a given area, including social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization, as well as researching interdependence between regions at scales ranging from local to global.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $102,040/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$66,770$136,660

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: -3.1% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.

About 100 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionWritingSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningComplex Problem SolvingScienceSystems Analysis

Top knowledge areas

GeographyEnglish LanguageComputers and ElectronicsEducation and TrainingSociology and AnthropologyMathematicsHistory and ArcheologyLaw and Government

Core tasks

• Create and modify maps, graphs, or diagrams, using geographical information software and related equipment, and principles of cartography, such as coordinate systems, longitude, latitude, elevation, topography, and map scales.

• Gather and compile geographic data from sources such as censuses, field observations, satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and existing maps.

• Teach geography.

• Write and present reports of research findings.

• Provide geographical information systems support to the private and public sectors.

• Study the economic, political, and cultural characteristics of a specific region's population.

• Analyze geographic distributions of physical and cultural phenomena on local, regional, continental, or global scales.

• Develop, operate, and maintain geographical information computer systems, including hardware, software, plotters, digitizers, printers, and video cameras.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Geographers?

The median pay for Geographers is $102,040 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Geographers?

Employment for Geographers is projected to change -3.1% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.

What education is typically required for Geographers?

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

How many job openings are there each year for Geographers?

About 100 openings per year, on average, over the decade.