Geographer salary in Illinois
Geographers in Illinois earn a median of $92,640 a year ($44.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,650 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $102,040. Illinois ranks 6th of 7 states for geographers pay. There are 0.01 geographers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $92,160, close to the median.
Pay range for geographers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,330 | $30.45 |
| 25th percentile | $64,150 | $30.84 |
| Median | $92,640 | $44.54 |
| 75th percentile | $105,370 | $50.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,650 | $60.41 |
| Average (mean) | $92,160 | $44.31 |
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 | $7,720 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,860 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,563.08 |
| Weekly | $1,781.54 |
| Hourly | $44.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highest-paying states for geographers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $114,920 |
| California | $114,460 |
| Washington | $112,260 |
| Virginia | $108,020 |
| Missouri | $102,040 |
| Illinois | $92,640 |
| Texas | $79,170 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $83,750 | $40.27 |
| School Psychologist | $84,690 | $40.72 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $91,360 | $43.92 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $69,810 | $33.56 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $99,050 | $47.62 |
| Survey Researcher | $54,080 | $26.00 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $59,560 | $28.63 |
| Political Scientist | $103,780 | $49.89 |
| Historian | $89,670 | $43.11 |
| Sociologist | $140,770 | $67.68 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,330 | $39.58 |
| Chemist | $85,230 | $40.98 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $98,270 | $47.25 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $65,960 | $31.71 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for geographers in Illinois is $92,640 a year, or $44.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid geographers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of geographers in Illinois earn at least $125,650 a year. The top 25% earn $105,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for geographers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,330 a year, and a quarter of geographers earn $64,150 or less.
How many geographers work in Illinois?
About 40 geographers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.