The average salary for a geographer in the United States is around $102,040 per year.
Avg Salary
Geographers earn an average yearly salary of $102,040.
Wages typically start from $66,770 and go up to $136,660.
46% above national average Updated in 2025
Geographer earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level geographer earnings begin at:
$65.70 per hour
$136,660 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level geographer earnings begin at:
$58.59 per hour
$121,870 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level geographer earnings begin at:
$49.06 per hour
$102,040 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level geographer earnings begin at:
$38.60 per hour
$80,290 per year
10th percentile
Starting level geographer earnings begin at:
$32.10 per hour
$66,770 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Geographer salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $92,640 |
| Georgia | $85,670 |
| Colorado | $85,130 |
| Louisiana | $79,600 |
| Texas | $79,170 |
| Oregon | $75,800 |
| South Dakota | $70,380 |
| Arizona | $69,500 |
| Minnesota | $65,180 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,870 |
| Oklahoma | $50,230 |
| Maryland | $114,920 |
| California | $114,460 |
| Washington | $112,260 |
| Virginia | $108,020 |
| Missouri | $102,040 |
How do geographer salaries compare to similar careers?
Geographers earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than scientists but more than industrial ecologists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Scientist salary | $101K |
| Molecular biologist salary | $99K |
| Bioinformatics scientist salary | $99K |
| Atmospheric scientist salary | $99K |
| Hydrologist salary | $97K |
| Geographer salary | $102K |
| Chemist salary | $91K |
| Food science technologist salary | $89K |
| Occupational health specialist salary | $90K |
| Industrial ecologist salary | $82K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)