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The differences between geographers and gis specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a gis specialist has an average salary of $65,463, which is higher than the $65,339 average annual salary of a geographer.
The top three skills for a geographer include spatial data, arcgis and remote sensing. The most important skills for a gis specialist are GPS, python, and data collection.
| Geographer | GIS Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $65,339 | $65,463 |
| Hourly rate | $31.41 | $31.47 |
| Growth rate | - | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 1,646 | 2,029 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A geographer studies nature, land, and the earth's features. They gather geographic data through aerial field observations, maps, and satellite images. They conduct research through surveys, interviews, and other qualitative methods. They present the results of their research findings by writing reports. They may also advise others in using GIS, remote sensing, and GPS.
A GIS Specialist plans, develops, and implements systems and databases for storing and accessing geospatial data. They create maps and graphs using GIS software and related equipment.
Geographers and gis specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Geographer | GIS Specialist | |
| Average salary | $65,339 | $65,463 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $93,000 | Between $43,000 And $98,000 |
| Highest paying City | Arlington, VA | Edison, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | CoreLogic | The Wonderful Company |
| Best paying industry | Government | Energy |
There are a few differences between a geographer and a gis specialist in terms of educational background:
| Geographer | GIS Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Geography | Geography |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of California, Berkeley |
Here are the differences between geographers' and gis specialists' demographics:
| Geographer | GIS Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.2% Female, 25.8% | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 8.1% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |