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Geographer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$102,040median pay per year, or $49.06 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $66,770lowest 10% earn less
  2. $80,29025th percentile
  3. $102,040median
  4. $121,87075th percentile
  5. $136,660top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

A geographer earned a median of $102,040 a year in May 2025[1], well above the $50,980 median for all occupations[2]. The job typically needs a bachelor's degree[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-2.1%[5]
Openings per year
100[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[3]

How much do geographers make?

In May 2025, the median pay for geographers was $102,040 a year, or $49.06 an hour[1]. Half of the workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $102,350 a year, or $49.21 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

Here is how pay spread out:

Percentile Per year Per hour
10th[4][8] $66,770 $32.10
25th[4][8] $80,290 $38.60
Median[1] $102,040 $49.06
75th[4][8] $121,870 $58.59
90th[4][8] $136,660 $65.70

A percentile wage is a boundary line[9]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $66,770 a year[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance[10]. This is a small occupation, with about 1,400 wage and salary jobs[11].

Pay by state and city

Only 7 states have published wages for geographers[12]. Maryland had the highest median at $114,920, followed by California at $114,460 and Washington at $112,260[12]. Texas had the lowest of the seven at $79,170[12]. Many of these states have very few jobs, so the figures rest on small counts[12].

Maryland had the most jobs at 210, followed by Texas at 180 and Virginia at 130[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV had the highest median at $118,290[14]. It also had the most jobs, at 280[15]. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX had a median of $76,000 and 120 jobs[15].

Show median pay in 7 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Maryland[12]$114,920210
California$114,46080
Washington$112,26040
Virginia$108,020130
Missouri$102,04040
Illinois$92,64040
Texas$79,170180

How to become a geographer

Geography programs may cover human and physical geography, math or statistics, remote sensing and GIS[18]. Courses in business, economics or real estate may also help[18]. Internships that apply geography to real projects can be useful for college students[19].

Certification is not required, but it may show professional expertise[20].

In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 45% said a bachelor's degree is required, 25% said a doctoral degree and 20% said a master's degree[21]. This is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture.

What geographers do

Geographers study areas of the Earth's surface, including land forms, climate, soils, plants and animals, and how human activity shapes a place[22]. Typical tasks include:

BLS lists analytical, computer, communication and critical-thinking skills as important[24][25][26][27].

Where they work

The federal government, not counting the postal service, was the largest employer in 2025, at 64%[28]. Geographers who do fieldwork may travel to remote places or other countries to collect data[29]. BLS says most geographers work full time[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects that geographer employment will decline 2.1% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,500 jobs at both ends of the period[5]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[31]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[5].

Even so, BLS expects about 100 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs that come up when people retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 1.7% of workers leave the labor force and 4.9% move to a different occupation[32].

Is it a good fit?

Geography pays well compared with the typical job, with a median of $102,040 against $50,980 for all occupations[1][2]. The trade-off is a small field. It has about 1,400 jobs, a projected decline and about 100 openings a year[11][5][6]. It typically needs a bachelor's degree, and some jobs need a graduate degree[3][33]. It may suit people who enjoy maps, data and GIS software[23][25].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[34].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a geographer make a year?
The median was $102,040 a year in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $66,770 and the 90th percentile was $136,660[4].
What degree do you need to be a geographer?
Geographers typically need at least a bachelor's degree, and some jobs require a master's or doctoral degree[33].
Is geographer a growing job?
No. Employment is projected to decline 2.1% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[5][31]. About 100 openings a year are expected[6].
What is the highest paying state for geographers?
Of the 7 states with published wages, Maryland had the highest median at $114,920, followed by California at $114,460[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Geographers in the US was $102,040 per year and $49.06 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Geographers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Geographers: 10th percentile $66,770, 25th percentile $80,290, 75th percentile $121,870, 90th percentile $136,660. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Geographers is projected to decline 2.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,500 to 1,500 jobs (a change of +0). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 100 openings for Geographers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Geographers was $102,350 per year and $49.21 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Geographers: 10th percentile $32.10, 25th percentile $38.60, 75th percentile $58.59, 90th percentile $65.70. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,400 people were employed as Geographers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Geographers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Geographers jobs: Maryland 210; Texas 180; Virginia 130; Colorado 90; California 80. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Geographers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $118,290; Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $76,000. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Geographers jobs: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 280 (median $118,290); Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX 120 (median $76,000); Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 30 (median $104,770). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 19-3092.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 45%, Doctoral Degree 25%, Master's Degree 20%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 5%, Post-Doctoral Training 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET description of Geographers. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Geographers. O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of geographers in 2025: Federal government, excluding postal service 64%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Geographers: 1.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.