Geographers
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.
1,400 people do this job in the US. $102,040 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 74%
- 13%
- 13%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 5%. Today's estimate: 8%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 12 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study the economic, political, and cultural characteristics of a specific region's population.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 20% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | 2%Half by Feb 2028 | |
| Analyze geographic distributions of physical and cultural phenomena on local, regional, continental, or global scales.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 17% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | 2%Half by Feb 2028 | |
| Gather and compile geographic data from sources such as censuses, field observations, satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and existing maps.Done daily by most who do it. | 15% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| 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.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 13% | 3.3 h50 min to 1.3 work days | 25%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Write and present reports of research findings.Done more than yearly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 8% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | Stays with people | |
| Develop, operate, and maintain geographical information computer systems, including hardware, software, plotters, digitizers, printers, and video cameras.Done daily by most who do it. | 7% | 3.3 h50 min to 2.5 work days | Stays with people | |
| Teach geography.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 5% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Collect data on physical characteristics of specified areas, such as geological formations, climates, and vegetation, using surveying or meteorological equipment.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 4% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | Stays with people | |
| Provide geographical information systems support to the private and public sectors.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 4% | 1.7 h25 min to 6.7 h | 43%Half by Nov 2026 | |
| Provide consulting services in fields such as resource development and management, business location and market area analysis, environmental hazards, regional cultural history, and urban social planning.Done yearly or less by most who do it. | 3% | 6.7 h2.5 h to 2.8 work days | 9%Half by Aug 2027 | |
| Locate and obtain existing geographic information databases.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 2% | 1.3 h25 min to 4.2 h | 69%Half by now | |
| Conduct field work at outdoor sites.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 1% | 6.7 h3.3 h to 1.7 work days | Stays with people |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians26% now, 95% by 2028
- Geography Teachers, Postsecondary18% now, 69% by 2028
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers3% now, 55% by 2028
- Data Scientists22% now, 98% by 2028
- Cartographers and Photogrammetrists20% now, 98% by 2028
- Anthropologists and Archeologists2% now, 24% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).