### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Cartographers and Photogrammetrists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			cartographers and photogrammetrists imageCartographers and photogrammetrists measure, map, and chart the earth’s surface.							
						Quick Facts:     Cartographers and Photogrammetrists2023     Median Pay
            						$76,210     per year
										$36.64     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    14,000Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    5% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    700What Cartographers and Photogrammetrists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Cartographers and photogrammetrists collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information to create and update maps and related products.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Although cartographers and photogrammetrists spend much of their time in an office setting, some jobs require travel to locations that are being mapped. Most work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Cartographer or Photogrammetrist
                                                
                        
Cartographers and photogrammetrists typically need a bachelor’s degree in cartography, geography, geomatics, surveying, or a related field.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for cartographers and photogrammetrists was $76,210 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of cartographers and photogrammetrists is projected to grow							 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 1,000 openings for cartographers and photogrammetrists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for cartographers and photogrammetrists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of cartographers and photogrammetrists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about cartographers and photogrammetrists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Cartographers and Photogrammetrists Do 
            

			Cartographers and photogrammetristsCartographers and photogrammetrists typically collect and verify data used in creating maps.			
Cartographers and photogrammetrists collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information to create and update maps and related products.
Duties
Cartographers and photogrammetrists typically do the following:
Collect and analyze data from surveys, satellite images, and other sources
Create visualizations of data, such as annual precipitation patterns and elevation
Develop maps that integrate Geographic Information System (GIS) data for geospatial context
Prepare static or interactive maps in print, digital, or graphic format
Update and revise existing maps and chartsCartographers and photogrammetrists are mapmakers. They use information from a variety of sources to create visualizations of the world on a small scale.
Cartographers and photogrammetrists gather and analyze spatial measurements, images, and data about the Earth’s topography to build maps. They integrate information from sources such as land surveys and light-imaging detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology using GIS, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), and other software.
Cartographers and photogrammetrists may tailor mapping information to support a variety of decisions, such as those related to land use, the environment, or marketing. For example, they might create maps for an urban planning project that show population density, elevations, buildings, and roads.
In addition to designing static maps on paper, cartographers and photogrammetrists prepare interactive maps for digital applications that include websites, cell phones, and navigation systems. They also may create enhanced products for specific users, such as tactile maps for people who are visually impaired.
 Work Environment
			Cartographers and photogrammetristsCartographers may travel to the physical locations that they are mapping to better understand the topography of the region.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Cartographers and photogrammetrists held about 14,000 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of cartographers and photogrammetrists were as follows:
        Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                33%Architectural, engineering, and related services
                20Management, scientific, and technical consulting services
                7Federal government
                4State government, excluding education and hospitals
                4Although cartographers and photogrammetrists spend much of their time in an office setting, some jobs require fieldwork to collect data and verify results. For example, cartographers and photogrammetrists may travel to the locations they are mapping to examine the topography and validate survey measurements.
Work Schedules
Most cartographers and photogrammetrists work full time. They may have longer workdays while doing fieldwork.
 How to Become a Cartographer or Photogrammetrist

			Cartographers and photogrammetristsCartographers and photogrammetrists usually learn to create maps through degrees in cartography, geography, geomatics, or surveying.			
Cartographers and photogrammetrists typically need a bachelor’s degree in cartography, geography, geomatics, surveying, or a related field. Some cartographers and photogrammetrists may need to be licensed.
Education
Cartographers and photogrammetrists typically need a bachelor’s degree in cartography, geography, geomatics, surveying, or a related field. (Geomatics combines a variety of disciplines, such as engineering, natural resources, and mathematics.)
Coursework in these programs may include Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, remote sensing, and other technical subjects.
Aspiring cartographers and photogrammetrists may gain practical experience while in school by completing internships, such as in GIS, with private firms or government agencies.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Licensing requirements for cartographers and photogrammetrists vary. They may be state- or employer-specific and depend on job duties.
Certification for cartographers and photogrammetrists, such as from the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, is usually optional. Certification may demonstrate competence and may make candidates more competitive when looking for a job.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.***Cartographers and photogrammetrists****must be able to convey technical information clearly in nontechnical ways. Both written and oral communication are important.
***Computer skills.*** Cartographers and photogrammetrists must be able to work with GIS and other technology to collect and process data and with software to create maps.
***Critical-thinking skills.*** Cartographers and photogrammetrists interpret information from a variety of sources, as well as from existing maps, surveys, and other records. They must be able to determine the accuracy and relevance of the features they are mapping.
***Detail oriented.*** Cartographers and photogrammetrists must pay attention to detail when interpreting data and deciding what information to include in maps.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Cartographers and photogrammetrists must be able to reconcile differences between aerial photographs, land surveys, satellite images, and other sources they integrate into maps.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Cartographers and PhotogrammetristsMedian annual wages, May 2023Architects, surveyors, and cartographers$80,850  Cartographers and photogrammetrists$76,210  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for cartographers and photogrammetrists was $76,210 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $48,660, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $113,540.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for cartographers and photogrammetrists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Federal government
                $102,150Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                76,610State government, excluding education and hospitals
                69,260Architectural, engineering, and related services
                64,900Management, scientific, and technical consulting services
                64,000Most cartographers and photogrammetrists work full time. They may have longer workdays while doing fieldwork.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Cartographers and PhotogrammetristsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Cartographers and photogrammetrists5%  Architects, surveyors, and cartographers4%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of cartographers and photogrammetrists is projected to grow				 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 1,000 openings for cartographers and photogrammetrists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
The use of maps for government planning should lead to some employment growth. Cartographers and photogrammetrists also will be needed to map and locate areas that require help during natural disasters, often using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
			

                        Employment projections data for     cartographers and photogrammetrists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Cartographers and photogrammetrists**
			17-1021
			14,000
			14,700
			5
			700
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Cartographers and photogrammetrists **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of cartographers and photogrammetrists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Civil Engineers**
            Civil engineers plan, design, and supervise the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects.
            Bachelor's degree
            $95,890**Environmental Scientists and Specialists**
            Environmental scientists and specialists use their knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment and human health.
            Bachelor's degree
            $78,980**Geographers**
            Geographers study the Earth and the distribution of its land, features, and inhabitants.
            Bachelor's degree
            $90,880**Forest and Conservation Workers**
            Forest and conservation workers perform physical labor to improve the quality of natural areas such as forests, rangelands, and wetlands.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $33,940**Landscape Architects**
            Landscape architects design parks and other outdoor spaces.
            Bachelor's degree
            $79,320**Surveying and Mapping Technicians**
            Surveying and mapping technicians collect data and make maps of the Earth's surface.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $48,940**Surveyors**
            Surveyors make precise measurements to determine property boundaries.
            Bachelor's degree
            $68,540**Urban and Regional Planners**
            Urban and regional planners develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities in cities, counties, metropolitan areas, and other jurisdictions.
            Master's degree
            $81,800**Geological and Hydrologic Technicians**
            Geological and hydrologic technicians support scientists and engineers in exploring, extracting, and monitoring natural resources.
            Associate's degree
            $53,440
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about cartographers and photogrammetrists, visit
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)
Association of American Geographers (AAG)
Cartography and Geographic Information Society (CaGIS)
For information related to GIS certification, visit
United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF)

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Cartographers and Photogrammetrists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/cartographers-and-photogrammetrists.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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