Geographers
SOC 19-3092 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Geographers is $90,880, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $92,460, and an estimated 1,460 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +6.4% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -9.6% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will shrink 3.1% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Geographers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $90,880 | $90,880 | 1,460 |
| 2022 | $88,900 | $92,560 | 1,360 |
| 2021 | $85,220 | $95,829 | 1,440 |
| 2020 | $85,430 | $100,578 | 1,450 |
Nominal change
+6.4%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-9.6%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-3.1%
Declining
Employment 2024
1,500
Projected 2034
1,500
Annual Openings
100
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Geographers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $90,880. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $116,170 | +27.8% | 90 |
| Washington | $104,400 | +14.9% | 40 |
| Maryland | $103,600 | +14% | 280 |
| California | $96,970 | +6.7% | 110 |
| Colorado | $94,810 | +4.3% | 100 |
| Minnesota | $93,410 | +2.8% | 30 |
| Missouri | $92,780 | +2.1% | 30 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,280 | -8.4% | 40 |
| Illinois | $82,120 | -9.6% | 60 |
| Arizona | $78,840 | -13.2% | 60 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$59,850
25th Pct
$70,600
Median
$90,880
75th Pct
$110,240
90th Pct
$126,940
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado | CO | 3 | $60,000 |
| Univ of WI System | WI | 2 | $56,389 |
| The Florida State University | FL | 1 | $80,000 |
| Data Vision Group, LLC | NJ | 1 | $160,000 |
| RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SUNY AT BUFFALO | NY | 1 | $67,038 |
| The University of Iowa | IA | 1 | $69,345 |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL | NC | 1 | $73,507 |
| University of Maryland, Baltimore County | IL | 1 | $58,500 |
| Dartmouth College | NH | 1 | $67,000 |
| Colorado State University | CO | 1 | $60,000 |
| City of Manvel | TX | 1 | $66,128 |
| M.W. Associates | NY | 1 | $78,000 |
| The Trustees of Princeton University | NJ | 1 | $77,901 |
| UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | CA | 1 | $162,000 |
| Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) | CA | 1 | $59,000 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Life, Physical & Social Science
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
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