Geographers Salary
The median pay for a geographers in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD is $104,770/year ($50.37/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $141K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.49), that's roughly $100,268 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,857/month, or 28.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $105K get you in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baltimore-Columbia-Towson’s Regional Price Parity (104.49). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About geographers
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What this looks like in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Geographers pay in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson tracks closely to the national median, $105K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,857/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.49) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for geographers in metros near Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $118K | $109K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Entry-level geographers (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $105K. Top earners bring in $141K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Geographers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Geographers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $115K | +13% | 210 |
| California | $114K | +12% | 80 |
| Washington | $112K | +10% | 40 |
| Virginia | $108K | +6% | 130 |
| Missouri | $102K | +0% | 40 |
| Illinois | $93K | -9% | 40 |
| Texas | $79K | -22% | 180 |
Track geographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Baltimore-Columbia-Towson numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a geographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Yes — at the median salary of $105K, rent takes 28.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,857/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for geographers in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new geographers typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,310/month. At HUD’s $1,857/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is geographer a high-paying job in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $105K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Baltimore-Columbia-Towson compare to the national average for geographers?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson pays $105K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $100K — below the national median.
How much do geographers make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median is $104,770 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,840, and experienced geographers can clear $140,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $105K enough to live in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,440/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,857/month, which eats 28.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a geographers salary go in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson has a Regional Price Parity of 104.49 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median geographers salary is worth about $100,268 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do geographers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.