All About Geographers
Job Description: Study the nature and use of areas of the Earth’s surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena. Conduct research on physical aspects of a region, including land forms, climates, soils, plants, and animals, and conduct research on the spatial implications of human activities within a given area, including social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization, as well as researching interdependence between regions at scales ranging from local to global.
What Do Geographers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Develop, operate, and maintain geographical information computer systems, including hardware, software, plotters, digitizers, printers, and video cameras.
- Conduct field work at outdoor sites.
- Create and modify maps, graphs, or diagrams, using geographical information software and related equipment, and principles of cartography, such as coordinate systems, longitude, latitude, elevation, topography, and map scales.
- Locate and obtain existing geographic information databases.
- Write and present reports of research findings.
- Analyze geographic distributions of physical and cultural phenomena on local, regional, continental, or global scales.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Geographer?
When polled, Geographers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Types of Geographer Jobs
- Biogeographer
- GIS Physical Scientist (Geographic Information Systems Physical Scientist)
- Geographic Information Systems Analyst (GIS Analyst)
- Scientist
- Imagery Analyst
Job Opportunities for Geographers
There were about 1,500 jobs for Geographer in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 13.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 200 new jobs for Geographer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 200 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Geographer are Oregon, Missouri, and Georgia. Watch out if you plan on working in Wisconsin, Washington, or North Carolina. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Geographer Average Salary
The salary for Geographers ranges between about $50,720 and $109,900 a year.
Geographers who work in California, Georgia, or Colorado, make the highest salaries.
How much do Geographers make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $69,730 |
| California | $85,530 |
| Colorado | $84,380 |
| Georgia | $79,030 |
| Louisiana | $81,160 |
| Maryland | $84,990 |
| Minnesota | $67,820 |
| Missouri | $76,320 |
| Oregon | $78,630 |
| Texas | $65,000 |
| Washington | $83,530 |
What Tools do Geographers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Geographers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- SAS
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Minitab
- Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- ESRI ArcView
- Wolfram Research Mathematica
- Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
- ESRI ArcInfo
- Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Golden Software Surfer
Becoming a Geographer
Education needed to be a Geographer:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Geographers Sector
Geographers work in the following industries:
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Geographer might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Geographer in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Couleur via public domain (CC0)
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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