Geographer Salary
Geographers earn a median $102,040 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
U.S. median
$102,040
$49.06 per hour
Range
$66,770 – $136,660
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
1,400
across the U.S.
Geographer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$80,615
per year · effective tax rate 21.0%
$6,718Monthly
$3,359Twice a month
$3,101Every 2 weeks
$38.76Hourly
- Federal income tax$13,619
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,326
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,480
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$80,615
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,770 | $32.10 | $55,803 |
| 25th percentile | $80,290 | $38.60 | $65,314 |
| Median (50th) | $102,040 | $49.06 | $80,615 |
| 75th percentile | $121,870 | $58.59 | $94,564 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,660 | $65.70 | $104,673 |
Geographer salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $114,920 | $84,560 | $71,840 – $140,670 | 210 |
| California | $114,460 | $81,449 | $85,800 – $144,910 | 80 |
| Washington | $112,260 | $87,805 | $76,490 – $147,990 | 40 |
| Virginia | $108,020 | $79,425 | $71,650 – $156,750 | 130 |
| Missouri | $102,040 | $76,757 | $75,800 – $126,440 | 40 |
| Illinois | $92,640 | $69,561 | $63,330 – $125,650 | 40 |
| Texas | $79,170 | $64,526 | $62,890 – $114,550 | 180 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a geographer make?
The national median salary for geographers is $102,040 a year ($49.06 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $66,770 and the top 10% earn over $136,660. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays geographers the most?
Maryland has the highest median pay at $114,920.
How many geographers are there in the U.S.?
About 1,400 people work as geographers nationwide.