Geographer salary in California
Geographers in California earn a median of $114,460 a year ($55.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $85,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,910 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $102,040. California ranks 2nd of 7 states for geographers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.00 geographers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.48). The average (mean) salary is $114,310, close to the median.
Pay range for geographers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,800 | $41.25 |
| 25th percentile | $97,680 | $46.96 |
| Median | $114,460 | $55.03 |
| 75th percentile | $130,850 | $62.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,910 | $69.67 |
| Average (mean) | $114,310 | $54.96 |
Half of geographers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,538.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,769.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,402.31 |
| Weekly | $2,201.15 |
| Hourly | $55.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highest-paying states for geographers
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $116,000 | $55.77 |
| School Psychologist | $127,780 | $61.43 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $109,610 | $52.70 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $97,900 | $47.07 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,240 | $34.73 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $157,540 | $75.74 |
| Survey Researcher | $83,520 | $40.16 |
| Economist | $119,410 | $57.41 |
| Sociologist | $125,770 | $60.47 |
| Historian | $97,420 | $46.84 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,840 | $49.44 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $113,530 | $54.58 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-3092. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a geographer make in California?
The median salary for geographers in California is $114,460 a year, or $55.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $85,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid geographers make in California?
The top 10% of geographers in California earn at least $144,910 a year. The top 25% earn $130,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for geographers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $85,800 a year, and a quarter of geographers earn $97,680 or less.
How many geographers work in California?
About 80 geographers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.