How much does a Geographer make?
Geographers in the United States bring home a median salary of $102,040 a year, or around $49.06 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $66,770, while the top 10% earn $136,660.
That is $40,650 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Geographer salary range by percentile
Half of all Geographers earn between $80,290 and $121,870 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,770 | $32.10 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $80,290 | $38.60 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $102,040 | $49.06 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $121,870 | $58.59 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,660 | $65.70 |
Highest-paying states for Geographer
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Maryland leads the country for Geographer pay at $114,920 a year, followed by California ($114,460) and Washington ($112,260). At the other end, Texas posts the lowest median at $79,170 — a gap of $35,750 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $114,920 | $55.25 | +13% |
| 2 | California | $114,460 | $55.03 | +12% |
| 3 | Washington | $112,260 | $53.97 | +10% |
| 4 | Virginia | $108,020 | $51.93 | +6% |
| 5 | Missouri | $102,040 | $49.06 | +0% |
Geographer salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 7 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 1,000 people work as Geographers in the United States. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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