Jobs Similar to Geographers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to geographers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Atmospheric and Space Scientists, Anthropologists and Archeologists and Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists.
Geographers: $102,040 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Geographers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atmospheric and Space Scientists | 79% | $99,070−3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Anthropologists and ArcheologistsSame group | 78% | $70,770−31% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | 78% | $122,570Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | 76% | $76,780−25% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 76% | $101,9200% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | 76% | $81,390−20% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Geography Teachers, Postsecondary | 73% | $97,590−4% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Astronomers | 73% | $128,820+26% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Transportation PlannersSame group | 73% | $101,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Environmental Restoration Planners | 73% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | 72% | $82,220−19% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | SociologistsSame group | 72% | $106,030+4% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Political ScientistsSame group | 72% | $142,080+39% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Conservation Scientists | 72% | $73,010−28% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Epidemiologists | 72% | $87,220−15% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Mathematicians | 72% | $126,710+24% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Environmental EconomistsSame group | 71% | $124,720Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Urban and Regional PlannersSame group | 71% | $89,320−12% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 71% | $94,980−7% | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Industrial Ecologists | 71% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
- 1Atmospheric and Space Scientists
79% similar · $99,070 (−3%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Anthropologists and Archeologists
78% similar · $70,770 (−31%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
78% similar · $122,570 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
76% similar · $76,780 (−25%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
76% similar · $101,920 (0%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
76% similar · $81,390 (−20%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
73% similar · $97,590 (−4%) · Graduate degree
- 8Astronomers
73% similar · $128,820 (+26%) · Graduate degree
- 9Transportation Planners
73% similar · $101,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Environmental Restoration Planners
73% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 11Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
72% similar · $82,220 (−19%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Sociologists
72% similar · $106,030 (+4%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 13Political Scientists
72% similar · $142,080 (+39%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 14Conservation Scientists
72% similar · $73,010 (−28%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Epidemiologists
72% similar · $87,220 (−15%) · Graduate degree
- 16Mathematicians
72% similar · $126,710 (+24%) · Graduate degree
- 17Environmental Economists
71% similar · $124,720 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 18Urban and Regional Planners
71% similar · $89,320 (−12%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 19Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary
71% similar · $94,980 (−7%) · Graduate degree
- 20Industrial Ecologists
71% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for geographers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where geographers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists (86)
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (86)
- Cartographers and Photogrammetrists (83)
- Geography Teachers, Postsecondary (80)
- Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians (79)
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists (78)
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (76)
- Conservation Scientists (72)
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (72)
- Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary (68)
Questions about jobs like geographers
What jobs are most similar to geographers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Atmospheric and Space Scientists (79% similar), Anthropologists and Archeologists (78% similar), Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists (78% similar), Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (76% similar) and Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers) (76% similar).
Which jobs like geographers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Political Scientists ($142,080, +39%; usually a graduate degree), Astronomers ($128,820, +26%; usually a graduate degree) and Mathematicians ($126,710, +24%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with geographers ($102,040).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.