What Does a Cartographer Do?
While most people now carry a map on their phone, someone still has to build it, gathering survey data, satellite images and public records into a map that is accurate and easy to read. Cartographers do that work for governments, utilities, publishers and mapping companies, and most now work in GIS (geographic information system) software.
Cartographer Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a cartographer include:
- Compile map data from surveys, satellite and aerial images, GPS records and public databases.
- Design print and web maps in ArcGIS Pro or QGIS, choosing symbols, colors and labels.
- Check map features against source data and fix errors in boundaries, roads and names.
- Edit GIS layers so parcels, utilities or zoning areas line up with survey control.
- Build interactive web maps and dashboards for public and staff use.
- Georeference scanned historical maps so they line up with modern coordinates.
- Write metadata describing each dataset's source, date and accuracy.
- Meet with planners, engineers or editors to decide what a map must show.
- Keep map styles consistent across a series, an atlas or an agency's map set.
- Update base maps as new construction, annexations or road changes are recorded.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a cartographer, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- ArcGIS Pro and QGIS
- Map design, typography and color for readability
- Coordinate systems and map projections
- Adobe Illustrator for finishing print maps
- Python or SQL for data cleanup
- GIS Professional (GISP) certification for senior posts
- Patience with fine detail
- Clear communication with non-specialists
Education and Training
Employers look first for a bachelor's degree in geography, GIS, geomatics or a related field, which matches the entry level BLS reports for cartographers. Because the job mixes data and design, a portfolio of finished maps carries real weight. Graduates from other fields often add a GIS certificate to close the gap.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $65,670 - $101,960 per year, with a median of $81,390.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Cartographers and Photogrammetrists.
BLS projects employment of cartographers and photogrammetrists to grow about 7 percent from 2025 to 2035. It is a small field, though. Only about 900 openings a year are expected across the whole group, so a strong portfolio and GIS programming skills can decide who gets hired.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Cartographers and photogrammetrists.