Changing shape

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.

AI Resistance Index 5 of 99

Among the careers AI is changing fastest: more resilient than 5% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is very high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it very high), and US jobs are projected to change by -2.1% by 2035, expected to shrink. The work leans on creative vision.

AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.

Median pay (2025): $102,040
Job growth to 2035: -2.1%
Openings a year: 100
People doing it (2025): 1,500
Usual route in: Bachelor's degree

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Where people already use AI for this work

Research historical or social issues
Present research or technical information
Design computer or information systems or applications

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Collect environmental or biological samples

What the work looks like

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.
Gather and compile geographic data from sources such as censuses, field observations, satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and existing maps.
Teach geography.
Write and present reports of research findings.
Provide geographical information systems support to the private and public sectors.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

Environmental scientists and specialists, including healthGrows with AI, Index 34, +6.1%
Atmospheric and space scientistsChanging shape, Index 11, +2.6%
Anthropologists and archeologistsGrows with AI, Index 44, +6.0%
EconomistsGrows with AI, Index 11, +4.7%

Also known as: Earth Observations Scientist, Geographer, GIS Coordinator (Geographic Information Systems Coordinator), GIS Geographer (Geographic Information Systems Geographer), GIS Physical Scientist (Geographic Information Systems Physical Scientist), Scientist.

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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.