Searching

Career Exploration

  1. Home

Geographers

Also called: Earth Observations Scientist, Geographer, GIS Coordinator (Geographic Information Systems Coordinator), GIS Geographer (Geographic Information Systems Geographer)

What they do:

Study the nature and use of areas of the Earth's surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena. Conduct research on physical aspects of a region, including land forms, climates, soils, plants, and animals, and conduct research on the spatial implications of human activities within a given area, including social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization, as well as researching interdependence between regions at scales ranging from local to global.

On the job, you would:
  • Create and modify maps, graphs, or diagrams, using geographical information software and related equipment, and principles of cartography, such as coordinate systems, longitude, latitude, elevation, topography, and map scales.
  • Gather and compile geographic data from sources such as censuses, field observations, satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and existing maps.
  • Teach geography.
On the job, you'll need:

Math and Science

  • geography
  • sociology and anthropology

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Engineering and Technology

  • computers and electronics

Education and Training

  • teaching and course design

Basic Skills

  • reading work related information
  • writing things for co-workers or customers

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

People and Technology Systems

  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Verbal

  • communicate by writing
  • read and understand what is written

Ideas and Logic

  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • use rules to solve problems

Math

  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem

Investigative

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

  • Attention to Detail
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Initiative
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Persistence

Analytical or scientific software

  • IBM SPSS Statistics
  • The MathWorks MATLAB

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Map creation software

  • Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE
  • Martin D Adamiker's TruFlite

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Below Average.

New job opportunities are less likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $88,900

Education

Bachelor's degree or doctoral degree is usually needed.

Explore More

See other careers in the following industries: