Geographers
Geographers (SOC 19-3092) earn a median $102,040 a year ($49.06 an hour) in the United States, with 1,400 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Maryland.
What geographers do
Geographers study the surface of the Earth and the ways physical features and human activity interact. Physical geographers look at landforms, climate, soils, plants, and animals, while human geographers examine social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization. Typical tasks include gathering and compiling geographic data from censuses, field observations, satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and maps, creating and modifying maps, graphs, and diagrams with geographic information system software and related tools, and writing and presenting research findings. Some teach. The occupation differs from cartographers and photogrammetrists, who focus on producing maps and spatial data products, from urban and regional planners, who prepare plans for land use, and from geoscientists, who study the Earth's materials and processes. Geoscientists and hydrologists have their own separate classifications. Geographers also provide geographic information systems support, develop, operate, and maintain GIS computer systems, and study the economic, political, and cultural characteristics of a region's population.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Geographer, Biogeographer, Economic Geographer, Earth Observations Scientist, Cultural Resources Specialist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $32.10 | $38.60 | $49.06 | $58.59 | $65.70 | $49.21 | 1,400 |
| Annual | $66,770 | $80,290 | $102,040 | $121,870 | $136,660 | $102,350 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where geographers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $34.54 | $40.67 | $55.25 | $61.83 | $67.63 | $52.80 | 210 | 0.08 | 8.35 |
| Annual | $71,840 | $84,590 | $114,920 | $128,610 | $140,670 | $109,820 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $41.25 | $46.96 | $55.03 | $62.91 | $69.67 | $54.96 | 80 | 0.00 | 0.48 |
| Annual | $85,800 | $97,680 | $114,460 | $130,850 | $144,910 | $114,310 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $36.77 | $42.92 | $53.97 | $59.68 | $71.15 | $54.53 | 40 | 0.01 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $76,490 | $89,270 | $112,260 | $124,130 | $147,990 | $113,420 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $34.45 | $39.05 | $51.93 | $63.76 | $75.36 | $53.90 | 130 | 0.03 | 3.63 |
| Annual | $71,650 | $81,230 | $108,020 | $132,620 | $156,750 | $112,100 | ||||
| Missouri | Hourly | $36.44 | $40.09 | $49.06 | $55.73 | $60.79 | $48.55 | 40 | 0.01 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $75,800 | $83,390 | $102,040 | $115,920 | $126,440 | $100,980 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $34.54 | $40.67 | $55.25 | $61.83 | $67.63 | $52.80 | 210 | 0.08 | 8.35 |
| Annual | $71,840 | $84,590 | $114,920 | $128,610 | $140,670 | $109,820 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $30.24 | $33.45 | $38.06 | $46.46 | $55.07 | $40.78 | 180 | 0.01 | 1.39 |
| Annual | $62,890 | $69,580 | $79,170 | $96,640 | $114,550 | $84,830 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $34.45 | $39.05 | $51.93 | $63.76 | $75.36 | $53.90 | 130 | 0.03 | 3.63 |
| Annual | $71,650 | $81,230 | $108,020 | $132,620 | $156,750 | $112,100 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 90 | 0.03 | 3.61 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| California | Hourly | $41.25 | $46.96 | $55.03 | $62.91 | $69.67 | $54.96 | 80 | 0.00 | 0.48 |
| Annual | $85,800 | $97,680 | $114,460 | $130,850 | $144,910 | $114,310 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $38.43 | $44.73 | $56.87 | $63.37 | $69.56 | $55.21 | 280 | 0.09 | 9.85 |
| Annual | $79,940 | $93,040 | $118,290 | $131,810 | $144,680 | $114,830 | ||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $34.54 | $34.73 | $50.37 | $60.98 | $67.63 | $50.07 | 30 | 0.02 | 2.61 |
| Annual | $71,840 | $72,240 | $104,770 | $126,830 | $140,670 | $104,140 | ||||
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | Hourly | $30.21 | $33.21 | $36.54 | $41.47 | $47.48 | $37.82 | 120 | 0.09 | 10.11 |
| Annual | $62,840 | $69,070 | $76,000 | $86,250 | $98,750 | $78,670 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $38.43 | $44.73 | $56.87 | $63.37 | $69.56 | $55.21 | 280 | 0.09 | 9.85 |
| Annual | $79,940 | $93,040 | $118,290 | $131,810 | $144,680 | $114,830 | ||||
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | Hourly | $30.21 | $33.21 | $36.54 | $41.47 | $47.48 | $37.82 | 120 | 0.09 | 10.11 |
| Annual | $62,840 | $69,070 | $76,000 | $86,250 | $98,750 | $78,670 | ||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $34.54 | $34.73 | $50.37 | $60.98 | $67.63 | $50.07 | 30 | 0.02 | 2.61 |
| Annual | $71,840 | $72,240 | $104,770 | $126,830 | $140,670 | $104,140 | ||||
Top industries employing geographers
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) employ 66.4% of geographers nationally (930 jobs) at a median $110,010 a year ($52.89 an hour), followed by Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (10.7%) and State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (10.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 930 | 66.4% | $110,010 | $52.89 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 150 | 10.7% | $68,340 | $32.86 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 150 | 10.7% | $75,590 | $36.34 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 60 | 4.3% | $92,380 | $44.42 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (1,400). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $85,220 for geographers in May 2021 and $102,040 in May 2025, with employment of 1,440 and 1,400.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $85,220 | $40.97 | 1,440 |
| May 2022 | $88,900 | $42.74 | 1,360 |
| May 2023 | $90,880 | $43.69 | 1,460 |
| May 2024 | $97,200 | $46.73 | 1,380 |
| May 2025 | $102,040 | $49.06 | 1,400 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
8 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland profile | $55.25 | $114,920 | $71,840 | $140,670 | 210 | 0.08 | 8.35 |
| 2 | California profile | $55.03 | $114,460 | $85,800 | $144,910 | 80 | 0.00 | 0.48 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $53.97 | $112,260 | $76,490 | $147,990 | 40 | 0.01 | 1.17 |
| 4 | Virginia profile | $51.93 | $108,020 | $71,650 | $156,750 | 130 | 0.03 | 3.63 |
| 5 | Missouri profile | $49.06 | $102,040 | $75,800 | $126,440 | 40 | 0.01 | 1.40 |
| 6 | Illinois profile | $44.54 | $92,640 | $63,330 | $125,650 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.80 |
| 7 | Texas profile | $38.06 | $79,170 | $62,890 | $114,550 | 180 | 0.01 | 1.39 |
| – | Colorado profile | * | * | * | * | 90 | 0.03 | 3.61 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (19-3090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 19-3092 Geographers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 19-3092, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 19-3092.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.