Geographer According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), geographers study the features of land and are commonly grouped into two categories, physical and cultural (bls.gov). There are many specialties within these two categories, such as economic, political and medical geographers. The Association of American Geographers defines physical geography as the study of patterns in land formation and climates, while cultural or human geographers study spatial aspects related to humans (aag.org). These professionals may work for government organizations, non-profits or private business. Career Outlook and Salary Information The BLS indicates that employment opportunities for geographers were expected to increase by 35% from 2010-2020; although this is much faster than average, the small size of this career field may limit the actual number of openings. Professional certifications offered by nationally recognized organizations, such as the Geographic Information Systems Certification Institute (GISCI), may help with employment. The GISCI states that individuals who become certified will have their expertise documented and may earn a higher salary (gisci.org). In May 2012, the BLS reported that the average annual salary for geographers was $74,020. The scientific research and development industry was the highest-paying employer, with an average salary of $92,630.
Posted on: Sat, 21 Jun 2014 17:53:53 +0000
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