H-1B Geographer Roles See Surge in Demand, Primarily in Maryland
Explore H-1B visa filings for Geographers. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 100 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 90% |
| Average Salary | $78,116 |
| Salary Range | $55,827 - $130,878 |
| Top Sponsor | University of Maryland, College Park |
| Primary Location | Maryland |
Geographers is one of the H-1B visa categories with 18 filings and an average salary of $85,468. H-1B Geographer roles show a significant increase in demand, particularly in FY2025. The median salary for H-1B Geographers is slightly above the average, indicating competitive compensation. Geographic distribution of H-1B Geographers is concentrated in Maryland, with other states showing minimal presence.
| Total Filings | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 90% |
| Average Salary | $78,116 |
| Median Salary | $73,008 |
| 25th Percentile | $65,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $88,400 |
| Minimum Salary | $55,827 |
| Maximum Salary | $130,878 |
| 10th Percentile | $60,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $65,000 |
| Median (50th) | $73,008 |
| 75th Percentile | $88,400 |
| 90th Percentile | $103,000 |
| Average | $78,116 |
| Sample Size | 99 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| H-1B | 98 |
| E-3 AUSTRALIAN | 1 |
| H-1B1 SINGAPORE | 1 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 100 |
| Employer | Filings | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland, College Park | 9 | $96k |
| University of Maryland College Park | 7 | $102k |
| University of Georgia; OGE | 7 | $68k |
| University of Colorado | 5 | $67k |
| HDR Engineering, Inc. | 4 | $80k |
| The University of Alabama | 4 | $75k |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | 4 | $60k |
| Battelle Memorial Institute | 3 | $122k |
| CBRE, INC. | 3 | $75k |
| Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska | 3 | $62k |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| Maryland | 14 |
| California | 11 |
| New York | 11 |
| Georgia | 8 |
| Colorado | 5 |
| Texas | 4 |
| Illinois | 4 |
| Nebraska | 4 |
| Oregon | 4 |
| Michigan | 4 |
Focus your H-1B job search on Maryland and be prepared to negotiate salaries within the observed range, as demand is increasing.
The average H-1B salary for Geographers is $85,468, with a median of $80,000. The 25th-75th percentile range is $65,000 to $109,553.
Top H-1B sponsors for Geographers include University of Maryland College Park, Battelle Memorial Institute, University of Georgia; OGE, University of Maryland, College Park, Texas State University. A total of 10 employers have filed for this role.
There are 18 H-1B filings on record for Geographers positions. 100.0% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Geographers positions are Maryland (6), Georgia (4), Washington (2), Texas (2), Connecticut (1).
Yes, Geographers is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 18 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Geographers salaries range from $55,869 to $145,000. The median salary is $80,000.
The approval rate for Geographers H-1B petitions is 100.0%. The number of H-1B petitions for Geographers has more than doubled from FY2024 to FY2025.
Maryland accounts for the largest share of H-1B Geographer positions, suggesting a strong industry presence there.
Focus your H-1B job search on Maryland and be prepared to negotiate salaries within the observed range, as demand is increasing.
The salary range for Geographers is broad, with the median salary slightly higher than the average.
The Geographers occupation (SOC code 19-309200) is classified under the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The SOC system groups workers into occupational categories based on the type of work performed, providing a standardized framework for comparing wages, employment levels, and workforce trends across the United States.
Geographers positions fall within the specialty occupation category required for H-1B visa sponsorship, meaning they typically require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in the specific specialty. Based on H-1B filing data, the most common education requirement for Geographers positions is Not Specified (100 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 100 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Geographers positions show an average offered salary of $78,116, with a range from $55,827 at the entry level to $130,878 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in Maryland (14 filings) and California (11 filings).
Career outlook for Geographers professionals is closely tied to industry demand for specialized skills. Employers sponsoring H-1B workers for this role are demonstrating that they could not find sufficient qualified U.S. workers to fill these positions, which often signals strong demand and competitive compensation. Workers in this occupation may also be eligible for other visa categories including L-1 intracompany transfers, O-1 extraordinary ability visas, or employment-based green card sponsorship through the PERM process.
To sponsor a foreign worker for an H-1B visa in a Geographers role, U.S. employers must satisfy several requirements established by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and enforced by both the Department of Labor (DOL) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):
The position must qualify as a "specialty occupation," meaning it requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a specific specialty directly related to the position. For Geographers roles, H-1B filings indicate that employers most commonly require a Not Specified degree. USCIS evaluates whether the position itself, not just the employer's preference, genuinely requires specialized education.
Employers must pay H-1B workers at least the prevailing wage for the occupation in the geographic area of employment, as determined by the DOL. The prevailing wage is based on four skill levels (Level 1 through Level 4) that reflect the complexity of the job duties and required experience. For Geographers positions, the average offered salary of $78,116 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 17.4%, with 76% of filings offering above the prevailing wage.
Before filing the H-1B petition, employers must obtain a certified LCA from the DOL. The LCA requires employers to attest to four conditions: (1) paying at least the prevailing wage or actual wage, whichever is higher; (2) providing working conditions that do not adversely affect similarly employed U.S. workers; (3) no strike or lockout at the worksite; and (4) proper notice of the filing to workers. The overall LCA approval rate for Geographers positions is 90%.
The annual H-1B cap is set at 65,000 regular visas plus 20,000 for beneficiaries with U.S. master's degrees or higher (the "master's cap"). Certain employers, including institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations, and government research organizations, are exempt from the cap. Geographers positions at cap-exempt employers can be filed at any time during the year, while cap-subject employers must participate in the annual H-1B lottery, typically held in March for the following fiscal year.
H-1B visas are initially granted for up to three years and can be extended for a maximum of six years total. Workers who have an approved I-140 immigrant petition (part of the green card process) may be eligible for extensions beyond the six-year limit under the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21). The average contract duration for Geographers H-1B filings is approximately 31 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Geographers positions.
| City | State | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Riverdale | Maryland | 9 |
| Athens | Georgia | 7 |
| New York | New York | 7 |
| Boulder | Colorado | 5 |
| Chicago | Illinois | 4 |
| East Lansing | Michigan | 4 |
| College Park | Maryland | 3 |
| Tempe | Arizona | 3 |
| Lincoln | Nebraska | 3 |
| Portland | Oregon | 3 |