Geographers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $144,680 or more. The middle half of geographers in Washington earn between $93,040 and $131,810.
- $80K10th
- $93K25th
- $118KMedian
- $132K75th
- $145K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $114,830 | $9,569 | $55.21 |
| Median | $118,290 | $9,858 | $56.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $93,040 | $7,753 | $44.73 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $131,810 | $10,984 | $63.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Geographers salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $114,830, a single filer in Washington takes home about $82,821 a year, or $6,902 a month and $3,185 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $85,243 | $7,104 |
| Working in MD | $84,341 | $7,028 |
| Working in VA | $83,824 | $6,985 |
| Working in DC | $82,821 | $6,902 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for geographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $114,830 buys what about $105,461 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Geographers salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$104,140
- Austin, TX$78,670
Highest-paying cities for geographers
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($114,830).
- Washington, DC$114,830
- Baltimore, MD$104,140
- Austin, TX$78,670
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Geographers salary in Washington: questions
How much do geographers make an hour in Washington?
$55.21 an hour on average, and $56.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level geographers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $93,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the geographers take-home pay in Washington?
About $82,821 a year ($6,902 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $114,830.
Do geographers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($103,993).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-3092; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 9.85, this job is 9.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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