Geographers build judgment and decision making, complex problem solving and systems analysis skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Atmospheric and Space Scientists (86%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atmospheric and Space Scientists | 86% | $99,070 | −3% | None |
| 2 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 86% | $101,920 | 0% | None |
| 3 | Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | 85% | $122,570Pay for the broader BLS group “Physical Scientists, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 4 | Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | 80% | $81,390 | −20% | None |
| 5 | Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians | 79% | $116,580Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 6 | Geography Teachers, Postsecondary | 78% | $97,590 | −4% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Data Scientists | 76% | $120,230 | +18% | None |
| 8 | Hydrologists | 74% | $96,600 | −5% | None |
| 9 | Statisticians | 70% | $105,650 | +4% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Intelligence Analysts | 69% | $93,790Pay for the broader BLS group “Detectives and Criminal Investigators” | Not compared | None |
Compared with Geographers, median $102,040. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as geographers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
86% skill match · $99,070 · −3% pay
Complex Problem Solving · Operations Monitoring · Management of Personnel Resources
86% skill match · $101,920 · 0% pay
Equipment Selection · Troubleshooting · Operation and Control
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
85% skill match · $122,570 (broader BLS group)
Programming · Quality Control Analysis · Operation and Control
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Atmospheric and Space Scientists (86% skill match, median $99,070), Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (86% skill match, median $101,920) and Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists (85% skill match, median $122,570), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 6 pay more than geographers at the median. The biggest increases: Database Architects (+37%, $139,500), Astronomers (+26%, $128,820) and Mathematicians (+24%, $126,710).
14 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones. 11 usually need a graduate degree: Geography Teachers, Postsecondary, Statisticians and Astronomers.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.