MapPros! Careers in Geospatial Technologies

Salaries for Geospatial Technology-Related Careers

Salaries vary depending on the person’s experience, education, position, employer and location. GeoSearch listed the following salary ranges in the nationwide 2003 Salary Survey for the Geospatial Sciences. See the complete report for additional job titles, job descriptions and instructions to calculate the salary ranges for your area.

Job Title Lowest
Salary
Actual
Average
Salary
Highest
Salary

GIS Manager / Coordinator

$51,850

$69,528

$81,516

GIS Project Manager

48,023

58,869

75,834

GPS / Survey Manager

50,390

62,994

76,772

Stereoplotter Operator (all levels)

25,790

43,013

47,784

GIS Programmer
(Junior & Senior)

37,010

63,903

75,995

GIS Specialist
(Junior & Senior)

38,765

57,462

68,255

GIS Technician

31,028

34,801

45,848

GIS Database Manager

51,750

64,500

74,450

Raster/Vector Technician

35,840

41,530

50,020

Digital Ortho Image Technician

27,287

34,336

45,268

Quality Assurance Analyst

38,862

49,164

64,487

GPS Surveyor/Technician

29,236

38,171

47,410

GPS Programmer

53,138

63,800

74,500

Aerial Photographer

30,347

36,806

39,341

Programmer/Analyst
(Junior & Senior)

39,544

70,732

79,560

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published these 2002 salary statistics:

  1. Half of all cartographers and photogrammetrists earned between $32,580 and $55,610.
  2. Half of all surveyors earned between $29,320 and $53,440.
  3. Half of all surveying and mapping technicians earned between $22,640 and $39,070.

2003 Federal Government Average Salaries:

  • land surveyors - $62,980
  • cartographers - $67,989
  • geodetic technicians - $55,374
  • surveying technicians - $33,316
  • cartographic technicians - $43,517

You may also be interested in several informal salary surveys available at the following web sites: Clark University, GISLounge.com, GISJobs.com, and the University of Florida.