Geography and Cartography
Social Sciences
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $58,134 | $46,566 to $63,566 | 19 | 95% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $57,487 | $53,450 to $64,931 | 126 | 95% |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | $75,252 | $60,619 to $85,990 | 6 | 100% |
| Master's Degree | $80,622 | $75,503 to $90,604 | 21 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +5% (2024 to 2034), about 115,700 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $136,550 | +4.5% | 106,700 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $51,940 | +4.5% | 7,600 |
| Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | $78,380 | +6.4% | 1,000 |
| Geography Teachers, Postsecondary | $86,730 | +3.3% | 300 |
| Geographers | $97,200 | -3.1% | 100 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.