Geographers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for geographers in the U.S. is $102,040 ($49.06 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $102,040
- Mean annual wage
- $102,350
- Median hourly wage
- $49.06
- Employment
- 1,400
1,400 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $66,770 | $32.10 |
| 25th percentile | $80,290 | $38.60 |
| Median (50th) | $102,040 | $49.06 |
| 75th percentile | $121,870 | $58.59 |
| 90th percentile | $136,660 | $65.70 |
Highest-paying states for geographers
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $114,920 | 210 |
| California | $114,460 | 80 |
| Washington | $112,260 | 40 |
| Virginia | $108,020 | 130 |
| Missouri | $102,040 | 40 |
| Illinois | $92,640 | 40 |
| Texas | $79,170 | 180 |
Lowest-paying states
- Texas: $79,170 median annual wage
- Illinois: $92,640 median annual wage
- Missouri: $102,040 median annual wage
- Virginia: $108,020 median annual wage
- Washington: $112,260 median annual wage
About this occupation
Study 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.
Typical tasks
- Provide geographical information systems support to the private and public sectors.
- Study the economic, political, and cultural characteristics of a specific region's population.
- Analyze geographic distributions of physical and cultural phenomena on local, regional, continental, or global scales.
- 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.
- 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.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 0.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.9% |
| Some college, no degree | 4.8% |
| Associate's degree | 2.3% |
| Bachelor's degree | 31.1% |
| Master's degree | 39.2% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 19.4% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.