Geography & Environment Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Geography & Environment major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Sciences, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Sciences, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$89,385

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$141,325

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$189,929

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 3.8%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$3,575,400

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
SOC: 19-2041
Occupation: Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
$80,060
84,930
N/A
N/A
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
SOC: 19-4042
Occupation: Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
$49,490
39,390
N/A
N/A
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1053
Occupation: Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary
$87,710
7,130
N/A
N/A
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1064
Occupation: Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
$86,730
3,290
N/A
N/A
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
SOC: 19-3099
Occupation: Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
$100,340
36,970
N/A
N/A
Conservation Scientists
SOC: 19-1031
Occupation: Conservation Scientists
$67,950
25,590
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

9.3%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$80,06084,930
2023$78,98080,730
2022$76,48077,270
2021$76,53076,890
2020$73,23084,610

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health

5.6%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$49,49039,390
2023$50,66032,390
2022$48,38033,920
2021$47,37034,110
2020$46,85031,860

Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary

3.5%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$87,7107,130
2023$88,4107,120
2022$83,0406,240
2021$81,9805,440
2020$84,7405,860

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary

5.3%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$86,7303,290
2023$85,6003,480
2022$81,9203,340
2021$81,4403,440
2020$82,3303,720

Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other

15.0%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$100,34036,970
2023$95,89035,210
2022$88,90033,210
2021$84,43034,330
2020$87,26034,570

Conservation Scientists

6.1%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$67,95025,590
2023$68,75022,790
2022$64,46022,880
2021$63,75022,550
2020$64,02022,020

Geographers

13.8%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$97,2001,380
2023$90,8801,460
2022$88,9001,360
2021$85,2201,440
2020$85,4301,450

Natural Sciences Managers

16.8%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$161,180100,870
2023$157,74096,520
2022$144,44082,570
2021$137,90074,760
2020$137,94075,870

Colleges offering Geography & Environment

University of Maryland-Baltimore County

RoEdu™

987

Net Price

$18k

Earnings

$62k

Ohio University-Main Campus

RoEdu™

949

Net Price

$21k

Earnings

$59k

University of Missouri-Kansas City

RoEdu™

883

Net Price

$15k

Earnings

$54k

Modesto Junior College

RoEdu™

803

Net Price

$14k

Earnings

$47k

Northeastern State University

RoEdu™

658

Net Price

$12k

Earnings

$45k