Careers in Geography | Department of Geography

From the water you drink to the bus you commute on, geographers play a role in our day-to-day lives in ways you might not think of. A degree in Geography prepares students to employ transdisciplinary knowledge and innovative methods from both the physical and social sciences to address the world’s most pressing issues, from climate change and biodiversity loss to migration, global inequality, and community development. Geographers address these issues through a number of different careers in government, business, and the nonprofit sector. Below we offer a small sample of the hundreds of possible careers that a Geography degree can prepare you for. Explore the wide range of opportunities and start on your path to becoming a geographer today!

Urban and Regional Planner Salary: ~$67,000 • Projected Job Growth: 8-14%

Aerial shot of a city center with tall buildings and crossing freeways.

Transportation Planner Salary: ~$75,000 • Projected Job Growth: 2%

Blurry photo of two individual sitting on a bus.

Emergency Management Planner Salary: ~$65,000 • Projected Job Growth: 8-14%

Gleen lit up sign with a figure running and a directional arrow pointing right.

Environmental Restoration Planner Salary: ~$67,000 • Projected Job Growth: 15-21%

Hands holding a small seedling above the ground.

Cartographers Salary: ~$61,000 • Projected Job Growth: 15-20%

Abstract line illustration of the world map on a grey background.

Social and Environmental Policy Analyst Salary: ~$105,000 • Projected Job Growth: 15-21%

Photograph of a large dam and a mountain lake.

Geospatial Information Scientists and Technologists Salary: ~$83,000 • Projected Job Growth: 3-7%

Three dimensional digital map of the earth and space.

Real Estate Appraisers and Assessors Salary: ~$52,000 • Projected Job Growth: 3-7%

Tiny toy house and door key with house shaped keychain sitting on a table.

Intelligence Analyst Salary: ~$80,000 • Projected Job Growth: 2%

Aerial shot of group of people at a table covered in papers with charts and graphs printed on them.

Water Resource Specialist Salary: ~$120,000 • Projected Job Growth: 3-7%

Field at sunset with rows of sprinklers spraying water.

Foreign Service Officer (Diplomat) Salary: ~$70,000 • Project Job Growth: %10

Geography Teacher Salary: ~$56,000 • Projected Job Growth: 3-7%

three apples sitting in a row on a white surface.

Logistician Salary: ~$74,000 • Projected Job Growth: 22% or higher

Shipping yard filled with large stacked crates.

Forrester Salary: ~$58,000 • Projected Job Growth: 3-7%

*Salary averages were collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2014. The job growth numbers were projected over a 10 year period between 2012 and 2022 by O*NET Online. All data is available on the American Association of Geographers' careers section of their website.