Geographers Salary
The median geographers salary in the United States is $102,040 per year ($49.06/hour). Salaries range from $66,770 at the entry level to $136,660+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 1,400 geographers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 3.1% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$102,040
per year
Hourly Rate
$49.06
per hour
Employment
1,400
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$66,770
25th percentile
$80,290
Median
$102,040
75th percentile
$121,870
90th percentile
$136,660
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-3.1%
Decline
Annual Openings
100
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Geographers Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Limited data available — BLS only publishes salary data for areas with sufficient survey responses.
Salary Map — Click a state for details
$79K$115K■ No data
Top Paying States
Maryland
$115K
+13%
California
$114K
+12%
Washington
$112K
+10%
Virginia
$108K
+6%
Missouri
$102K
+0%
Illinois
$93K
-9%
Texas
$79K
-22%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $114,920 | +12.6% |
| California | $114,460 | +12.2% |
| Washington | $112,260 | +10.0% |
| Virginia | $108,020 | +5.9% |
| Missouri | $102,040 | +0.0% |
| Illinois | $92,640 | -9.2% |
| Texas | $79,170 | -22.4% |
Geographers Salary by Metro Area
Limited metro data available — BLS only publishes data for areas with sufficient survey responses.
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $118,290 | +15.9% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $104,770 | +2.7% |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $76,000 | -25.5% |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A geographers earning $102,040/year would need 584 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 627 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how geographers salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Geographers salary trend (2011–2024) →