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Geographers

Also called: Earth Observations Scientist, Geographer, GIS Geographer (Geographic Information Systems Geographer), Scientist

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What they do:
Study the nature and use of areas of the Earth's surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena. Conduct research on physical aspects of a region, including land forms, climates, soils, plants, and animals, and conduct research on the spatial implications of human activities within a given area, including social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization, as well as researching interdependence between regions at scales ranging from local to global.
On the job, you would:
  • Create and modify maps, graphs, or diagrams, using geographical information software and related equipment, and principles of cartography, such as coordinate systems, longitude, latitude, elevation, topography, and map scales.
  • Analyze geographic distributions of physical and cultural phenomena on local, regional, continental, or global scales.
  • Write and present reports of research findings.

Knowledge

Math and Science
  • geography
  • sociology and anthropology
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
  • history and archeology
Education and Training
  • teaching and course design
Engineering and Technology
  • computers and electronics

Skills

Basic Skills
  • reading work related information
  • talking to others
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Abilities

Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • communicate by writing
Ideas and Logic
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • use rules to solve problems
Math
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Integrity
  • Persistence

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software
  • IBM SPSS Statistics Hot Technology
  • The MathWorks MATLAB Hot Technology
Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology In Demand
Map creation software
  • Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE
  • Martin D Adamiker's TruFlite

Education

Education: (rated 5 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
master's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Below Average Outlook
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
$85,220
$53,410
$118,380
Check out my state Local Salary Info Find Jobs

Explore More

See more details at O*NET OnLine about geographers.