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Government and Public Agencies
U.S. Geological Survey, NOAA, NASA
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
Cartographers and photogrammetrists turn aerial photos, satellite images, survey notes, and database records into maps and digital layers people can actually use. The work is unusual because it mixes technical image analysis with design choices about scale, symbols, projection, and layout, and the tradeoff is simple: every map has to be both readable and exact, so small mistakes can ripple into big problems.
Also known as CartographerPhotogrammetristGIS CartographerMapping SpecialistGeospatial Mapping Analyst
Median Salary
$78,380
Mean $82,860
U.S. Workforce
~13K
1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+6.4%
13.4K to 14.3K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists sits in the Science category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~13K workers, with a median annual pay of $78,380 and roughly 1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 13.4 K in 2024 to 14.3K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Post-Secondary Certificate in GIS or Cartography, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Mapping Assistant and can progress toward Mapping Program Manager. High-value skills usually include Reading Comprehension, ArcGIS Pro, QGIS & GIS Mapping Software, and Critical Thinking, paired with soft skills such as Attention to detail, Spatial reasoning, and Clear communication.
Core Responsibilities
- Collect aerial photos, satellite images, survey notes, and older maps so there is enough source material to build an accurate map.
- Keep digital mapping databases updated with new roads, boundaries, terrain details, and other geographic information.
- Use mapping and photogrammetry software to trace land features, elevations, waterways, and buildings from image data.
- Turn raw geographic data into finished maps or image mosaics, choosing the right scale, projection, colors, and layout for the job.
Keep exploring: more Science careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Collect aerial photos, satellite images, survey notes, and older maps so there is enough source material to build an accurate map.
02 Keep digital mapping databases updated with new roads, boundaries, terrain details, and other geographic information.
03 Use mapping and photogrammetry software to trace land features, elevations, waterways, and buildings from image data.
04 Turn raw geographic data into finished maps or image mosaics, choosing the right scale, projection, colors, and layout for the job.
05 Decide what information should appear on a map and how it should be shown so the final product fits its purpose.
06 Check final map products carefully to catch missing details, label problems, and other errors before they are published.
Industries That Hire
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Engineering, Surveying, and Construction
AECOM, Jacobs, WSP
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GIS Software and Geospatial Technology
Esri, Hexagon, Trimble
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Defense and Aerospace
Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing
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Utilities and Infrastructure
Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, National Grid
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is solid for a specialized technical job, with a mean annual wage of $82,860 and a median of $78,380.
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The role does not require prior work experience or on-the-job training, which makes the entry path more straightforward than many technical careers.
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You can enter through more than one education route, including a certificate or a bachelor's degree, so there is flexibility in how you prepare.
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The work is varied: one day may involve image analysis and the next may focus on map design, data cleanup, or quality checks.
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There are about 1,000 annual openings, so even though the field is small, people do leave and need to be replaced.
Challenges
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Growth is modest at 6.4% over the decade, adding only 0.9 thousand jobs by 2034, so this is not a fast-expanding field.
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The occupation is small, with only 12,790 workers, which means openings can be limited and concentrated in certain regions or agencies.
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A lot of the work is careful, repetitive checking, and mistakes in labels, projections, or boundaries can make a map unusable.
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Routine mapping and database tasks face automation pressure as software gets better at processing imagery and generating maps faster.
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Hiring can rise and fall with government budgets and project-based contracts, so the job market can feel uneven even when the work itself is steady.
Career Progression
Mapping Assistant
0-2 years
$46K-$61K
Beginners help gather source material, update map files, and check data for obvious errors while learning the software and standards.
Cartography Technician
2-5 years
$62K-$74K
At this stage, workers handle more of the drafting, image tracing, and database cleanup with less supervision.
Cartographer and Photogrammetrist THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$75K-$92K
This is the main production level, where people decide map content, process imagery, and make sure finished maps are accurate and usable.
Senior Geospatial Analyst
9-12 years
$93K-$112K
Senior workers handle harder datasets, solve quality issues, and often guide standards for map production or imagery analysis.
Mapping Program Manager
12+ years
$113K-$135K
Leaders oversee teams, set project priorities, and manage budgets, timelines, and quality control across multiple mapping products.
Education Paths
Post-Secondary Certificate in GIS or Cartography
A focused certificate is the most common path in the data, held by 35.73% of workers in this role.
Bachelor's Degree in Geography, Geomatics, or GIS
A bachelor's degree is the BLS typical entry point and is held by 30.02% of workers in this occupation.
Associate's Degree in Mapping, Surveying, or GIS
This is an alternative path for some workers and appears in 11.15% of the education distribution.
Master's Degree in Geospatial Science or Geography
Advanced study is less common, but 10.99% of workers report a master's degree, often for more specialized or analytical work.
Key Skills
Technical
Reading Comprehension 100%
ArcGIS Pro, QGIS & GIS Mapping Software 86%
Critical Thinking 88%
Writing 88%
Remote Sensing, Aerial Imagery & Satellite Analysis 84%
Photogrammetry, Stereo Plotting & Map Digitizing 83%
Active Listening 85%
Active Learning 81%
SQL & Spatial Databases 80%
Adobe Illustrator & Cartographic Design 79%
Complex Problem Solving 78%
Judgment and Decision Making 78%
Monitoring 78%
Soft Skills
Attention to detailSpatial reasoningClear communicationTeamworkTime managementAdaptability Job Outlook and Trends
+6.4%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 13.4K to 14.3 K over the next decade, representing 6.4% growth. Around 1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.