How much does a geographer make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $49.06 an hour or $8,503 a month.
- Hourly
- $49.06
- Average (mean)
- $102,400
- Jobs
- 1,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $66,770 | $32.10 | |
| 25th | $80,290 | $38.60 | |
| Median | $102,000 | $49.06 | |
| 75th | $121,900 | $58.59 | |
| 90th | $136,700 | $65.70 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Maryland | $114,900 |
| California | $114,500 |
| Washington | $112,300 |
| Virginia | $108,000 |
| Missouri | $102,000 |
| Illinois | $92,640 |
| Texas | $79,170 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Washington, DC | $118,300 |
| Baltimore, MD | $104,800 |
| Austin, TX | $76,000 |
In other countries
Geographer belongs to the international group "Sociologists, anthropologists and related professionals".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Economist$124,700
- Survey Researcher$69,460
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$194,000
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist$100,600
- School Psychologist$95,990
- Psychologist$110,800
- Sociologist$106,000
- Urban and Regional Planner$89,320
- Anthropologist and Archeologist$70,770
- Historian$76,750
Frequently asked questions
How much does a geographer make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $49.06 ($102,000 a year).
How much does a geographer make a month?
About $8,503 a month before tax, based on a median of $102,000 a year.
How much does a geographer make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $66,770 or less a year ($32.10 an hour); the top 10% make $136,700 or more.
Which state pays geographers the most?
Maryland, with a median of $114,900 a year, followed by California ($114,500) and Washington ($112,300).
Which city pays geographers the most?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, with a median of $118,300 a year.
How many geographers are there in the United States?
About 1,400 people work as geographers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.