Geographer - Job Duties, Requirements, and Earnings

Geographer - Job Duties, Requirements, and EarningsGeographer - Job Duties, Requirements, and EarningsA geographer studies the land, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of a platz or area of the earth. This social scientist may use what he or she learns through this research to help governments and businesses plan where to build homes and roads, how to respond to disasters, and what marketing strategies to use. Sometimes called GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Specialists or Scientists, geographers can specialize in several different areas of study, but most people who work in this field are physical or human geographers. A physical geographer studies the physical aspects of a particular region while a human geographers focus is on the effect human activities, including economic activities, social characteristics, and political organization, have on that area. Quick Facts Geographers median annual salary is $76,860 (2017).1,500 people work in this occupation (2016)A little o ver half of all geographers work for theFederal government. Architectural and engineering firms and state governments employ some.They usually have full-time jobs and work during regular business hours.The job outlookfor this occupation is good with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting job growth that is as fast as the average for all occupations between 2016 and 2026. However, given how few people work in this field, this growth wont amount to many job openings. Roles and Responsibilities It is important to know what your job duties will be before you decide whether to pursue this career. We took a look at job announcements onIndeed.comand learned that geographers Utilize GIS tools to perform data mining and research, and to assess, integrate, manipulate, exploit, extract, and analyze digital imagery, geospatial databases, and various sourcesUse imagery, intelligence reports, and knowledge of the Agencys research library holdings to complete various assignmentsCollab orate with coworkers to exploit, analyze, report, and disseminate information for the benefit of decision makersMaintain current knowledge of relevant technologies and subject areasPerform quality reviews to ensure geospatial and content accuracy The Downside of This Career Travel is a big part of geographers lives as their research often takes them to the regions they are studying. If you dont like traveling, particularlyinternationally and sometimes to very remote places, this may not be the right career for you. How to Become a Geographer Entry-level, as well as most Federal government jobs in geography, require only a bachelors degree. You will generally need a masters degree in geography or geographic information systems (GIS) for more advanced positions, especially those in the private sector.If you have your eye on a faculty position at a college or university, get ready to earn a doctoral degree. Because there are few jobs in this occupation, not everyone who gradua tes with a degree in geography can find work as a geographer. Should you want to use your degree to pursue other options, there are other occupations that will make good use of your knowledge. Your bachelors or masters degree will also prepare you to become asurveyor, urban or regional planner, geoscientist, or cartographer. WhatSoft SkillsDo You Need to Succeed in This Career? Analytical SkillsAs a geographer, you will have to analyze large quantities of data.Critical Thinking The ability to think critically will allow you to decide what data to collect and the methods to use to analyze it. You will then use the findings to solve problems.Writing and Presentation Skills Part of your job will involve writing and presenting your research to clients or colleagues.Communication Skills Since geographers often collaborate with colleagues, you must have excellent listening and speaking skills. WhatWill Employers ExpectFrom You? Here are some requirements from actual job announcemen ts found onIndeed.com Be a self-starter, be able to work alone, yet be able to share information with team members and customers in a timely mannerExceptional customer service orientationDemonstrated experience in creating visual aids (graphs, charts, etc.) and drafting, editing, and proofreading documents for publishingHighly accurate data entry skillsAble to translate technical concepts into laymans terms Is This Occupation a Good Fit for You? Consider your interests,personality type, andwork-related valueswhen choosing a career.Do aself assessmentto learn about your traits. If you have the following ones, think about becoming a geographer Interests(Holland Code) IRA (Investigative, Realistic, Artistic)Personality Type(MBTI PersonalityTypes) INTP, ENFP, INTJ, ISTP, INFPWork-Related Values Independence, Achievement, Working Conditions Related Occupations DescriptionMedian Annual Wage (2017)Minimum Required Education/TrainingAnthropologistStudies the origin, development, an d behavior of human beings$62,280Masters Degree in AnthropologyEconomistCollects and analyzes data in order to learn about the distribution of resources, goods, and services$102,490Masters or Doctoral Degree in EconomicsHistorianStudies historical documents to learn about the past$59,120Masters or Doctoral Degree in History Sources Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,Occupational Outlook Handbook Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor,O*NETOnline(visited November 12, 2018).