Association of American Geographers

What can you do as a geographer?

Geography is an attractive major for students. Its theories and methods provide analytical techniques applicable to a wide range of questions asked over a broad spectrum of occupations. For students planning to end their formal education with the bachelor's degree, a geography major provides marketable skills and the broad perspectives on environment and society that enable graduates to move beyond entry-level positions. For similar reasons, geography provides a sound foundation for students who plan to enter graduate work in a variety of fields, from geography to business, land use planning, law, and medicine.

The potential for practicing geography in private enterprise and government has grown considerably in recent years, although few such positions are designated with the title of geographer. Roughly a quarter of all geographers work in the private and public sectors. Here are some examples of the kinds of positions held by those geographers:
 

Aerial Photo Interpreter Air Pollution Specialist for a regional air quality district Air Quality Analyst Airline Cargo Marketing Executive Airlines Researcher Appraiser for a real estate corporation Area Specialist Avalanche Specialist in a U.S. National Forest Biologist (consulting ) Budget Planning and Policy Manager for a major metropolis Business Analyst in a corporation Cartographer Cartographer-Illustrator Cartographic Editor Cartographic Technician Climatologist Colonel in the U.S. Army Community Development Analyst Computer Mapping Specialist Computer Specialist for a U.S. National Park Conservation Education Coordinator for a state Data Analyst for an insurance company Demographer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Demographic Analyst for a county Deputy Assistant Director at the U.S. National Science Foundation Director of Computer Assisted Reporting for a major metropolitan daily newspaper Director of Industrial Development for a port authority Director of Planning and Zoning for a township Ecologist Economic Development Analyst Economist Energy Analyst Engineer, Civil Engineer, Consulting Engineer, Photogrammetric Environmental Manager Environment Planner for a state department of transportation Environmental Scientist for a state department of natural resources Field Data Capture Specialist Geodesist at the U.S. Defense Mapping Agency Geographer at the Smithsonian Institution Geographer at the U.S. Bureau of the Census Geographer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Geographer at the U.S. Economic Development Administration Geographer at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Geographer at the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Geographer at the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Geographer for a water management district Geographer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Geographer for the U.S. Army Topographic Engineering Center Geographer for the U.S. Forest Service Geographer, Consulting Geographer in a corporation Geographic Reference and Map Librarian Geographic Specialist at the U.S. Department of State Geography Education Specialist for an encyclopedia publisher Geologist for a state department of environment and conservation Geomorphologist at the U.S. National Biological Service Geopolitical Specialist for a software corporation GIS Analyst in a corporation GIS Coordinator for a county GIS Coordinator of Environmental Studies GIS Implementation Specialist for a state library GIS Program Manager for a county dept of information and administrative services Hotel Concierge Hydrogeologist (Consulting) Hydrologist for a state soil and water conservation agency

Insurance Analyst Intelligence Analyst at the U.S. National Photo Interpretation Center Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency Land Scientist (Consulting) Land Use Planner for a city Location Analyst Map Analyst Map Librarian Map Curator Mapping Designer for a corporation Mapping Specialist for a commercial mortgage firm Market Development Manager for a software corporation Marketing Analyst Meteorologist at the U.S. National Weather Service Meteorologist, Television Microcomputer specialist in a corporation Natural Historian, U.S. Soil Conservation Service Peace Corps Volunteer Physical Scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey Physical Scientist for the U.S. Defense Mapping Agency Planner, Community Planner, County Planner, Resources Planner, Transportation Planner, Urban Planner for a consolidated government Planning Information Director for a county Political Analyst Pollution Control Specialist for a metropolitan area Principal Scientist in a corporation Project Planner for a county Ranger in a U.S. National Park Real Estate Appraiser Real Estate Planner Real Estate Research Analyst for a corporation Real Estate Research Director Recycling Coordinator for a state Redevelopment Coordinator for a city Regional Environmentalist for a state department of transportation Regional Planner Remote Sensing Specialist Remote Sensing Scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey Research Analyst for a regional gas and electric company Research Meteorologist, U.S. National Climatic Data Center Research Scientist, U. S. National Weather Service Resource Development Director at the Canadian Bureau of Indian and North Affairs Resource Economist Resources Planner for as state Risk Analyst in a corporation Sales Facilities Research Analyst Site Researcher Soil Conservationist for a state natural resource conservation service Supervising Topographic Engineer for a state geological survey Teacher Tourism Developer Traffic Management Specialist, U.S. Department of Agriculture Transportation Planner for a county Transportation Planner for a county transit district Travel Consultant and Planner Water Conservation Planner for a city water system Water Resource Specialist for a state environment department Water Resources Planner, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Web Master Wetlands Conservation Supervisor for a reclamation authority Zoning Administrator Zoning Enforcement Inspector for a township Zoning Inspector for a city

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