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.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Aerial Photogrammetrist, Cartographic Designer, Digital Cartographer, Mapper, Photogrammetric Technician, Photogrammetrist, Stereo Compiler, Stereoplotter Operator.
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.
Cartographer Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $53,740 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $65,670 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $81,390 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $101,960 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $126,950 |
Highest-Paying States for Cartographers
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are California ($102,780), Minnesota ($99,850), Washington ($96,100), Nevada ($93,560), Massachusetts ($92,230). Pay is lowest in Georgia ($62,630), Louisiana ($59,990), Illinois ($54,680).
Median pay in all 41 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $89,170 |
| Arizona | $82,260 |
| California | $102,780 |
| Colorado | $86,960 |
| Connecticut | $84,100 |
| Florida | $79,650 |
| Georgia | $62,630 |
| Idaho | $72,930 |
| Illinois | $54,680 |
| Indiana | $74,800 |
| Iowa | $84,570 |
| Kentucky | $71,470 |
| Louisiana | $59,990 |
| Maine | $78,670 |
| Maryland | $84,360 |
| Massachusetts | $92,230 |
| Michigan | $75,090 |
| Minnesota | $99,850 |
| Missouri | $76,950 |
| Montana | $72,220 |
| Nebraska | $81,500 |
| Nevada | $93,560 |
| New Hampshire | $72,130 |
| New Jersey | $88,480 |
| New Mexico | $79,200 |
| New York | $89,290 |
| North Carolina | $81,080 |
| North Dakota | $71,070 |
| Ohio | $70,990 |
| Oklahoma | $86,410 |
| Oregon | $88,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,180 |
| South Carolina | $72,260 |
| South Dakota | $72,910 |
| Tennessee | $72,990 |
| Texas | $73,970 |
| Utah | $75,220 |
| Virginia | $86,660 |
| Washington | $96,100 |
| Wisconsin | $76,760 |
| Wyoming | $70,590 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as cartographers and photogrammetrists about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 100% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 99% spend more than half the workday sitting
- 99% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 98% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 87% use email every day
- 81% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 68% are on the phone every day
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Post-secondary certificate | 36% |
| Bachelor's degree | 30% |
| Associate's degree | 11% |
| Master's degree | 11% |
Tools and Software Cartographers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy organized work with data, records and clear procedures as well as analyzing problems and working with ideas.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Reading Comprehension, Writing, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Active Learning, Speaking.
Knowledge areas used most: Geography, Computers and Electronics, English Language, Design, Mathematics.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 4 of 5, which means considerable preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Cartographer Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 17-1021.00 (Cartographers and Photogrammetrists). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.