Geographers
Overview
Introduction
Geographers study the distribution of physical and cultural phenomena on local, regional, continental, and global scales. There are approximately 1,500 geographers employed in the United States, although many other people work in careers that require a major or classwork in geography.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Earnings and other benefits depend on the amount of training, the nature of the employment situation, and the personal interests and attributes of the individual employee. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), median annual earnings for geographers were $80,300 in May 2018. Salaries ranged from less than $50,720 annually to more than $109,900. The mean annual salary for geographers e...
Work Environment
Geographers usually enjoy pleasant working conditions. They spend much of their time in an office or classroom under the typical working conditions of a business, school, or federal agency. In some jobs, however, there can be unusual work situations. Fieldwork often requires the geographer to spend an extended period of time living in remote areas, often under primitive conditions....
Outlook
Geography is a very small profession. Sixty percent of geographers are employed by federal government agencies. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that little change in employment will occur for geographers at federal agencies through 2028. Budget cuts and the outsourcing of work to private professional, scientific, and technical services consulting firms (where employment is expected ...