Geographers
Geographers study the Earth and the distribution of its land, features, and inhabitants.
Is geographers a good career?
It scores 18/100 and ranks #395 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Pays well above the U.S. median wage ($102,040 vs $61,390)
Possible tradeoffs
- Employment is projected to decline (-3.1% through 2034)
- Typically requires a bachelor's degree
What geographers earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. geographers earn between $80,290 and $121,870 a year.
Best-paying states
Live geographers jobs
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- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow decline through 2034.
Education
High school students interested in becoming geographers should take classes in physical sciences, computer programming, and geography.
Geographers with a bachelor’s degree may qualify for entry-level jobs and for positions with the federal government. Geographers working outside of the federal government may need a master’s degree in geography or in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Some employers allow candidates to substitute work experience or GIS proficiency for an advanced degree. Research positions may require a Ph.D. or a master’s degree and several years of relevant experience.
Geography programs may include courses in physical and human geography, statistics or math, remote sensing, and GIS. Because geography is an interdisciplinary field, courses in a variety of areas, such as business, economics, or real estate, may be helpful.
College students may benefit from participating in internships that put geography principles into practice.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Although not required, certification may indicate professional expertise.
Important qualities
Analytical skills. Geographers study data and information from a variety of sources and must be able to draw conclusions about their usefulness and meaning.
Computer skills. Geographers must be proficient in GIS programming, database management, and data visualization techniques and should be comfortable creating and manipulating digital images with GIS software.
Communication skills. Geographers often need to write reports and funding proposals. They also present their research and findings to their peers and nontechnical audiences and must be able to convey the meaning of data in understandable ways.
Critical-thinking skills. Geographers must be able to choose the appropriate data, methods, and scale of analysis for projects.
Related occupations
How much do geographers make?
The national median wage is $102,040 a year, with the middle half earning between $80,290 and $121,870 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is geographers a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 18 of 100 and ranks #395 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -3.1% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a geographer?
The typical entry-level education is bachelor's degree.
Where do geographers earn the most?
Among states, Maryland pays the highest median ($114,920). Local pay for every state and metro is below.