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Salary comparison

Geographers vs. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists: Who Earns More?

Geographerss out-earn Occupational Health and Safety Specialistss by $12K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Geographerss land at $102,040 and Occupational Health and Safety Specialistss at $90,150. The education gap is real: geographer programs typically require bachelor's degree, while occupational health and safety specialist programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Geographerss is Maryland ($114,920); for Occupational Health and Safety Specialistss it's District of Columbia ($111,530).

Geographers
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Median salary
$102,040
$90,150
Hourly rate
$49.06/hr
$43.34/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$66,770
$55,000
Senior level (90th %)
$136,660
$134,950
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
1,400
140,610
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Science
Science
Top-paying state
Maryland
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Geographers median pay.

State
Geographers
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Maryland
$114,920
$91,820
California
$114,460
$102,840
Washington
$112,260
$102,920
Virginia
$108,020
$90,800
Missouri
$102,040
$83,090
Illinois
$92,640
$98,270
Texas
$79,170
$79,660

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Geographerss or Occupational Health and Safety Specialistss?

Geographerss earn more nationally. The median is $102,040 for Geographerss versus $90,150 for Occupational Health and Safety Specialistss, a difference of $12K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Geographers or Occupational Health and Safety Specialists?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Geographers or Occupational Health and Safety Specialists?

Geographers typically requires bachelor's degree. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Geographerss get paid the most?

Maryland is the top-paying state for Geographerss at $114,920/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Geographers vs. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Maryland, Geographerss earn $114,920 vs. $91,820 for Occupational Health and Safety Specialistss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Geographers salary breakdownView →Full Occupational Health and Safety Specialists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Geographerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Occupational Health and Safety Specialistss by take-home payExplore →How to become a geographersGuide →How to become a occupational health and safety specialistsGuide →