Education:
45%
Bachelor's Degree
25%
Doctoral Degree
Geographer
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Job Outlook:
Little or no change
Education:
Bachelor's degree
Salary
High:
$121,060.00
Average:
$88,960.00
Hourly
Average:
$42.77
What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
- 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.
Important Qualities
Analytical skills. Geographers study data and information from a variety of sources and must be able to draw conclusions about their usefulness and meaning.
Computer skills. Geographers must be proficient in GIS programming, database management, and data visualization techniques and should be comfortable creating and manipulating digital images with GIS software.
Communication skills. Geographers often need to write reports and funding proposals. They also present their research and findings to their peers and nontechnical audiences and must be able to convey the meaning of data in understandable ways.
Critical-thinking skills. Geographers must be able to choose the appropriate data, methods, and scale of analysis for projects.
Personality
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
|---|---|---|---|
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85% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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84% | Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. | |
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79% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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78% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. | |
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77% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
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77% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
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76% | Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. | |
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75% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
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71% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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70% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. | |
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68% | Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
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100% | Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service. | |
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61% | Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
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83% | Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. | |
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78% | Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. | |
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75% | Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. |
Aptitude
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
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78% | Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. | |
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78% | Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). | |
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78% | Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. | |
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75% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |
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75% | Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. | |
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75% | Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. | |
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72% | Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). | |
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69% | Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). | |
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69% | Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. | |
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69% | Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. | |
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66% | Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. | |
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66% | Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
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70% | Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. | |
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68% | Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
Job Details
Responsibilities
Prepare maps.
Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
Develop software or applications for scientific or technical use.
Collect archival data.
Conduct anthropological or archaeological research.
Instruct college students in social sciences or humanities disciplines.
Compile geographic or related data.
Collect geographical or geological field data.
Conduct anthropological or archaeological research.
Advise others on business or operational matters.
Collect geographical or geological field data.
Develop software or applications for scientific or technical use.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
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98% | Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job? | |
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89% | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? | |
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86% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
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85% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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83% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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73% | Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? | |
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71% | Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting? | |
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69% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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69% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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77% | Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
|---|---|---|---|
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90% | Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. | |
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89% | Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. | |
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88% | Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. | |
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86% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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81% | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. | |
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80% | Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. | |
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77% | Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. | |
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75% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
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75% | Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. | |
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74% | Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. | |
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74% | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. | |
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71% | Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. | |
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69% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. | |
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69% | Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. | |
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66% | Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. |
What Geographers Do
Geographers use maps and global positioning systems in their work.
Geographers study the Earth and the distribution of its land, features, and inhabitants. They research the interactions between the physical aspects of a region and the human activities within it.
Duties
Geographers typically do the following:
- Gather geographic data through field observations, maps, photographs, satellite imagery, and censuses
- Conduct research via surveys, interviews, and focus groups
- Create and modify maps or other visual representations of geographic data
- Analyze the geographic distribution of physical and cultural characteristics and occurrences
- Collect, analyze, and display geographic data with Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Write reports and present research findings
- Assist, advise, or lead others in using GIS and geographic data
- Link geographic data with economic, health, or other data
Geographers use several technologies in their work, such as GIS, remote sensing, and global positioning systems (GPS), to find relationships and trends in geographic data. They then present the data visually as maps, reports, and charts. For example, geographers may overlay aerial or satellite images with GIS data, such as population density in a given region, and create digital maps. They then use the maps to inform governments, businesses, and the public on a variety of topics, including urban planning and disaster response.
The following are examples of types of geographers:
Physical geographers study features of the natural environment, such as landforms, climate, soils, natural hazards, water, and plants. For example, physical geographers may map where a natural resource occurs in a country or study the implications of proposed economic development on the surrounding natural environment.
Human geographers often combine other disciplines with their research, which may include economic, environmental, medical, cultural, social, or political topics. Some human geographers rely primarily on quantitative research methods; others rely more heavily on qualitative methods, such as field observations and interviews.
Geographers often work on projects with people in related fields. For example, geographers may work with urban planners, civil engineers, legislators, or real estate agents to determine the best location for new public transportation infrastructure.
People who study geography and who use GIS in their work also may be employed as surveyors, cartographers and photogrammetrists, surveying and mapping technicians, urban and regional planners, geoscientists, or hydrologists. People who earn a Ph.D. in geography may become postsecondary teachers.
Work Environment
Geographers held about 1,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of geographers were as follows:
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 65% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 11 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 9 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 6 |
Geographers who do fieldwork may travel to foreign countries or remote locations to gather data and observe geographic features, such as the landscape and environment.
Work Schedules
Most geographers work full time.
Getting Started
How to Become a Geographer
Geographers may perform fieldwork as part of their education.
Geographers typically need at least a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Some jobs require a master’s or doctoral degree.
Education
High school students interested in becoming geographers should take classes in physical sciences, computer programming, and geography.
Geographers with a bachelor’s degree may qualify for entry-level jobs and for positions with the federal government. Geographers working outside of the federal government may need a master’s degree in geography or in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Some employers allow candidates to substitute work experience or GIS proficiency for an advanced degree. Research positions may require a Ph.D. or a master’s degree and several years of relevant experience.
Geography programs may include courses in physical and human geography, statistics or math, remote sensing, and GIS. Because geography is an interdisciplinary field, courses in a variety of areas, such as business, economics, or real estate, may be helpful.
College students may benefit from participating in internships that put geography principles into practice.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Although not required, certification may indicate professional expertise. For example, the GIS Certification Institute and the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing both offer certification in GIS. Candidates may qualify for certification by passing an exam and meeting other requirements, such as for education or experience.
Job Outlook
Employment of geographers is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032.
Despite limited employment growth, about 100 openings for geographers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Budget constraints are expected to reduce employment for geographers in federal government. However, governments and businesses will still need geographers to research topics such as natural hazards and the use of resources. For example, geographers’ analyses on population distribution and land use are important for infrastructure planning and development by both governments and businesses.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about geographers, visit
Association of American Geographers
For more information about geographic information systems (GIS) certification, visit
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
To find vacancies for geographer positions in the federal government, visit
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of geographers.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Anthropologists and Archeologists |
Anthropologists and archeologists study the origin, development, and behavior of humans. |
Master's degree | $63,940 |
|
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists |
Cartographers and photogrammetrists collect, measure, and interpret geographic information in order to create and update maps and charts for regional planning, education, and other purposes. |
Bachelor's degree | $71,890 |
|
Economists |
Economists conduct research, prepare reports, and evaluate issues related to monetary and fiscal policy. They also may collect and analyze statistical data. |
Master's degree | $113,940 |
|
Geoscientists |
Geoscientists study the physical aspects of the Earth. |
Bachelor's degree | $87,480 |
|
Market Research Analysts |
Market research analysts study consumer preferences, business conditions, and other factors to assess potential sales of a product or service. |
Bachelor's degree | $68,230 |
|
Political Scientists |
Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. |
Master's degree | $128,020 |
|
Postsecondary Teachers |
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. |
See How to Become One | $80,840 |
|
Surveying and Mapping Technicians |
Surveying and mapping technicians collect data and make maps of the Earth's surface. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $47,180 |
|
Surveyors |
Surveyors make precise measurements to determine property boundaries. |
Bachelor's degree | $63,080 |
|
Urban and Regional Planners |
Urban and regional planners develop land use plans and programs that help create communities, accommodate population growth, and revitalize physical facilities. |
Master's degree | $79,540 |