Geographers Salary
The median pay for a geographers in California is $114,460/year ($55.03/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $86K at the entry level to $145K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $107,839 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 35.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of California. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
Where the paycheck goes
What $114K actually covers in California, month by month
About geographers
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for geographers, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $102K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 36.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level geographers (10th percentile) start around $86K. Mid-career wages sit at $114K. Top earners bring in $145K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track geographers salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a geographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $114K, rent takes 36.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for geographers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new geographers typically earn — is $86K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,386/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 California?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $114K here vs. $102K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for geographers?
California pays $114K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do geographers make in California?
The median is $114,460 a year, that works out to about $55 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,800, and experienced geographers can clear $144,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $114K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,844/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 36.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a geographers salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (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 $107,839 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.