2 answers
Joel
Student
West Covina, California
3
Questions
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How much do geographers make yearly (on average)?
I've recently been interested in knowing how much geographers make in a year on average. I've tried to research but all the information provides different numbers than the others. I'd like to know what the average pay is per year, I understand it depends on many different factors but even a rough estimate will do. Thank you! #geography #geographer #career #wages
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2 answers
James Lein
Emeritus Professor of Geography
7
Answers
Athens, Ohio
Updated
James’s Answer
Hi Joel:
First, it's important to realize that in most instances you will not find a job asking specifically for a geographer. Rather someone with a degree in geography can fit into a wide range of professional positions that run from traditional areas in GIS and the mapping sciences to careers in resource management, environmental planning, city planning, location analysis, data analytics, and nearly any field where knowledge and background in seeing the world from a geographic perspective has an advantage. That said, it is important to design a course of study that provides the knowledge and skills that will make you competitive in those career paths you desire. Depending on which areas of geography you end up focusing in on, one can expect a starting salary for a BA degree somewhere between 30-50K depending on whether the opportunity is in the public or private sector
First, it's important to realize that in most instances you will not find a job asking specifically for a geographer. Rather someone with a degree in geography can fit into a wide range of professional positions that run from traditional areas in GIS and the mapping sciences to careers in resource management, environmental planning, city planning, location analysis, data analytics, and nearly any field where knowledge and background in seeing the world from a geographic perspective has an advantage. That said, it is important to design a course of study that provides the knowledge and skills that will make you competitive in those career paths you desire. Depending on which areas of geography you end up focusing in on, one can expect a starting salary for a BA degree somewhere between 30-50K depending on whether the opportunity is in the public or private sector
Kevin Belanger
3
Answers
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Kevin’s Answer
Agreed with James's answer from above - I completed a BS in Geography and I'm not sure I know anyone who is employed as a "geographer." We end up in all sorts of fields using the skills we learned. For instance, I am a trail planner for a nonprofit organization. With that said, I started out after school making about $45,000 a year (in a smaller city, in the private sector) and am now up to $76,000 a year (in a larger city, in the nonprofit sector) and I am about 10 years out of school. You won't likely get rich in a career in geography but I wouldn't trade it for anything.