Geographers Salary
The median pay for a geographers in Texas is $79,170/year ($38.06/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $115K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $86,534 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,415/month, or 25.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $79K actually covers in Texas, month by month
About geographers
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What this looks like in Texas
Pay for geographers in Texas runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $102K. Rent runs $1,415/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level geographers (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $115K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.
Geographers salary by metro in Texas
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $76K | -4% | 120 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Texas 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 Texas?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 26.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for geographers in Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new geographers typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,381/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Texas?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $79K here vs. $102K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for geographers?
Texas pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — below the national median.
How much do geographers make in Texas?
The median is $79,170 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,890, and experienced geographers can clear $114,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,340/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 26.5% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median geographers salary is worth about $86,534 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.