Geographer salary
From 96 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 19-3092: Geographers
At a glance
- Mostly Level I (entry-level). 47% of Geographer filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: University of Maryland College Park. 16 filings (17% of the total), median $97,969.
- Median up 37% since FY2020. From $61,250 in FY2020 to $84,157 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Geographer H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 96 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Geographer jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 19-3092, Geographers). The median base salary is $77,723, 37% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $66,838 and $98,932. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 47% of filings. Washington, DC has the most filings (16), and University of Maryland College Park is the employer that files the most (16).
Is your Geographer offer competitive?
Enter the base salary in your offer. We compare it with certified H-1B filings for Geographer jobs, nationally or in one metro area.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Geographer
Employers with the most Geographer filings. Bar: share of all Geographer filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 47% of filings
Mid-level · 26% of filings
Senior · 27% of filings
Expert · 0% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $66,975 | 38 |
| Level II · Qualified | $81,713 | 21 |
| Level III · Experienced | $100,370 | 22 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Geographer pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 1 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $100,370 | 16 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Geographer does
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.
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Gather and compile geographic data from sources such as censuses, field observations, satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and existing maps.
- Teach geography.
- Write and present reports of research findings.
- Provide geographical information systems support to the private and public sectors.
- Study the economic, political, and cultural characteristics of a specific region's population.
Preparation
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
O*NET occupation: Geographers (19-3092.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Geographers), the median annual wage was $102,040 in May 2025, with 1,400 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $77,723, 24% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $62,960 | $66,770 |
| 25th percentile | $66,838 | $80,290 |
| Median | $77,723 | $102,040 |
| 75th percentile | $98,932 | $121,870 |
| 90th percentile | $113,464 | $136,660 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $62,960 |
| 25th | $66,838 |
| 50th (median) | $77,723 |
| 75th | $98,932 |
| 90th | $113,464 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $61,250 | $54,507 | $72,421 | 54 |
| FY2021 | $60,000 | $55,188 | $74,630 | 57 |
| FY2022 | $70,000 | $59,669 | $82,500 | 60 |
| FY2023 | $65,385 | $60,000 | $80,000 | 56 |
| FY2024 | $70,371 | $61,800 | $75,004 | 50 |
| FY2025 | $73,029 | $65,000 | $90,147 | 57 |
| FY2026 | $84,157 | $71,354 | $105,241 | 39 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Geographer make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Geographer jobs is $77,723 (96 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $66,838 and $98,932.
What does an entry-level Geographer earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $66,975. Level I accounts for 47% of Geographer filings.
Do H-1B Geographers earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($77,723) is 24% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($102,040, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.