Career comparison
Geographer vs. Geoscientist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Geographers earn more at the median ($102,040 vs. $101,920), while geographers usually get to work faster (4-year degree of training). Geographers study places, people and the environment using maps and spatial data. Geoscientists study the Earth’s rocks, water and processes to find resources and reduce hazards.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Geographer | Geoscientist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $102,040 ($49.06/hr) | $101,920 ($49.00/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $66,770 – $136,660 | $59,330 – $200,230 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -2.1% (a projected decline) | +5.1% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 100 | 1,800 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4-year degree | 4-year degree plus field camp |
| Key credential | GISP | PG license |
| Work setting | Geographers work in offices with some fieldwork.. | Geoscientists split time between the field and the office.. |
What each job does
Geographer
- Collect spatial data
- Analyze patterns
- Make maps
- Use remote sensing
- Write reports
Geoscientist
- Map geology
- Collect samples
- Analyze data
- Model groundwater
- Assess hazards
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, working independently, problem-solving, and high-pay. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose geographer if…
- I love maps and places
- I like data
- I like technology
Choose geoscientist if…
- I love rocks and landscapes
- I like fieldwork
- I like data
Still torn? Take the Geographer fit quiz and the Geoscientist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, geographer or geoscientist?
Geographers earn more at the median: $102,040 versus $101,920 for geoscientists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Geographers typically train faster (4-year degree) than geoscientists (4-year degree plus field camp).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects geoscientists to grow +5.1% from 2025–35, compared with -2.1% for geographers.