Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Geographer
What geographers actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a geographer?
Pull census and land use data. From there, the day usually includes collect spatial data, analyze patterns, and make maps. Full-time business hours.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a geographer working full time.
- Pull census and land use data.
- Run a spatial analysis.
- Classify satellite imagery.
- Design maps.
- Meet planners.
- Write a report.
- Update a web map.
Where geographers work
Geographers work in offices with some fieldwork.
Hours and schedule
Full-time business hours.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Collect spatial data
- Analyze patterns
- Make maps
- Use remote sensing
- Write reports
- Advise planners
- Present findings
Tools you’ll use every day
- ArcGIS Pro
- QGIS
- Python
- Remote sensing software
- R
- GPS
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Fascinating questions
- GIS skills
- Federal jobs
- Good pay
What’s hard
- Small field
- Slight decline
- Desk-heavy
- Competitive
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I love maps and places
- I like data
- I like technology
- I’m curious
- I’m detail-oriented
- I might work for the government
Not sure? Take the free Geographer fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Follow field safety
- Protect sensitive data
- Use ergonomic setups
- Document sources