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Geographer

Overview and Key Facts

man with map
Education
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$97,200
Job Growth
Job Growth
-3.10%
(Below US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
1,500

What Do They Do?

A geographer could...

 
rover
Define the terrain of another planet, so that engineers can design an exploration vehicle.
neighborhood
Determine how and why the boundaries of a neighborhood are changing.
firefighters
Create up-to-the-minute fire maps to help firefighters combat a wildfire.
map
Create topographical maps to show how the coastline has changed over time.
 
rover neighborhood firefighters map

Overview Listen to this section

When you hear the word geography, you might think of maps and names of state capitals, but the work of geographers is much more than creating maps and identifying places. Geographers look at how people, places, and Earth are connected. They study the economy, social conditions, climate, and topography of a region to help answer questions in urban and regional planning, business, agriculture, and medicine.
Wesley Catanzaro describes what he does during a typical day and talks about how maps are used to convey real-world phenomena. Wesley Catanzaro is a geographic information systems analyst with the Department of Public Health in San Francisco.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rokWdaGc3u4

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Geographer?


  1. Writing: ?
  2. Reading Comprehension: ?
  3. Speaking: ?
  4. Critical Thinking: ?
  5. Active Listening: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Geographer might do:
  • 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.
  • Analyze geographic distributions of physical and cultural phenomena on local, regional, continental, or global scales.
  • Study the economic, political, and cultural characteristics of a specific region's population.
  • Develop, operate, and maintain geographical information computer systems, including hardware, software, plotters, digitizers, printers, and video cameras.
  • Locate and obtain existing geographic information databases.
  • Collect data on physical characteristics of specified areas, such as geological formations, climates, and vegetation, using surveying or meteorological equipment.
  • Conduct field work at outdoor sites.
  • Provide consulting services in fields such as resource development and management, business location and market area analysis, environmental hazards, regional cultural history, and urban social planning.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state
No data available for some states (white on the map)

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Geographer Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Geographer jobs (-3.10%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Geographer

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

To obtain a job as a geographer, students must have a college education.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Bachelor's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

Federal jobs require a bachelor's degree, but graduate study or experience is an advantage. Requirements for high school geography teachers vary by state. Be sure to check the certification requirements by state. Candidates interested in teaching positions in two-year colleges and specialized and managerial posts in government and private industry must obtain a master's degree. Top positions in government and industry go to those who have a doctoral degree. A doctoral degree is also generally required for teaching positions in four-year colleges and universities.

Cartographers must have a bachelor's degree in geography with course work in drawing, design, and mathematics. Some colleges offer special courses in cartography, and nearly all cartographers expand their skills on the job. Specialists in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) need a college degree in geography or engineering and familiarity with computers. Many colleges offer courses in GIS systems and methods.

Companies That Hire Geographers

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Read about teenage health geographer Megan Blewett who did geostatistical research from a computer in her living room. She used software to map the distributions of diseases like multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease, and Lyme disease, and then presented her surprising results to a congressional research caucus.
I started researching MS when I was 12 and have since fallen in love with discovering the insights spatial statistics can give. 
Megan M. Blewett
Read this interview with a leading geographer, Dr. Joseph Kerski, who works as an education manager at the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), a company that designs and develops the world's leading geographic information system (GIS) technology.
When epidemiologists study the spread of diseases, scientists study climate change, or businesspersons determine where to locate a new retail establishment, they use spatial thinking and analysis.  
Joseph Kerski, Ph.D.

Nature of the Work

Geographers are social scientists who study countries, regions, and cities through their economy, social conditions, climate, and topography. Geographers use their findings to solve problems in urban and regional planning, business, and agriculture. While many geographers are involved in environmental planning, most teach and do research in colleges and universities. Geographers also teach in high schools or work for federal and state agencies, private companies, or as self-employed consultants.

Geographers analyze distributions of physical and cultural phenomena on local, regional, continental, and global scales. Most geographers specialize in a particular aspect or method of geographic study. Economic geographers study the distribution of resources and economic activities. Political geographers are concerned with the relationship of geography to political phenomena, and cultural geographers study the geography of cultural phenomena. Physical geographers examine variations in climate, vegetation, soil, and landforms and their implications for human activity. Urban and transportation geographers study cities and metropolitan areas. Climatologists study weather patterns. Regional geographers or area specialists do research on a particular geographic region, ranging in size from a congressional district to entire continents. They use research methods from many aspects of geography to study all facets of an area, including its climate, economy, physical features, and culture. Medical geographers investigate health-care delivery systems, epidemiology (the study of the causes and control of epidemics), and the effect of the environment on health. Cartographers collect information and develop maps from aerial photographs, surveys, and other sources. They usually work for companies that publish maps and for the defense and intelligence departments of the government. Geographical information systems specialists use computer-aided technology to compile and analyze large amounts of data for environmental planning and natural resource management.

Most geographers use GIS technology to assist with their work. For example, they may use GIS to create computerized maps that can track information such as population growth, traffic patterns, environmental hazards, natural resources, and weather patterns, after which they use the information to advise governments on the development of houses, roads, or landfills.

In business, geographers help decide where to locate production facilities, find markets for goods and services, and do market analysis. Their advice is valued because they are trained to study physical features, such as natural resources, in tandem with cultural conditions, such as the availability of labor and transportation.

Work Environment

Geographers who teach work eight or ten months per year. However, college-level teachers may spend their summers working on research projects. Area specialists may travel to remote parts of the world. Graduate students often help professors with their research.

Geographers in government and business work in clean, comfortable offices. Those in top positions must often travel to attend meetings and to gather information for research.

More Information

Ask Questions

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Additional Resources

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