Explore This Path

Geographer

💰 Earn $98K-$131K

📚 Bachelor Degree

⏱️ 48 Month Training

📈 -2.1% Job Growth

Explore Earth's diverse landscapes and cultures through research and analysis.
Impact global understanding by studying physical and cultural interactions.
Use cutting-edge tech to create maps and reveal geographic insights.

What Geographers DoStudy 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.

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.
Analyze geographic distributions of physical and cultural phenomena on local, regional, continental, or global scales.
Write and present reports of research findings.
Gather and compile geographic data from sources such as censuses, field observations, satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and existing maps.
Teach geography.

Geographers Education, Salary, and Growth

Minimum EducationBachelor Degree

Career ProspectsShaky (Decreasing by 1-5%)

Training TimeOver 4 years

Job Openings100 Annually

Median earnings

California Median

$114,460

Most earn within this range

median ▾

$98K25th percentile

$131K75th percentile

National Median

$102,040

Most earn within this range

median ▾

$80K25th percentile

$122K75th percentile

Only you can decide how much you need to earn — but knowing what it actually costs to live in your area can help. The Family Budget Calculator can guide you.

Is This Career Right For You?

YOU Like

Being creative or artistic
Thinking and problem solving
Working with my hands

you value

Accomplishing things
Having freedom
Job security

you are skilled in

Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Active Learning
Science

Go Deeper: Geographers Explained

GeographerExplore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

How Do You Train for This Career?

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Associate's DegreeAn associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ Finish in 2-3 years

Bachelor's DegreeA bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ Finish in 4-5+ years

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