Wildlife GIS Analyst

Also called: Spatial Ecologist, Conservation GIS Specialist

Makes maps and analyzes location data to understand where animals live and move.

A day in the life

Maps GPS collar data to reveal where mountain lions cross highways, models how habitat will shift with climate change, and designs where to build wildlife overpasses.

Pay over a career

Starting

$48k

Typical

$68k

High

$100k

Estimate.

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in GIS, geography, or wildlife biology with GIS skills.

Ways in: 4-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.

Majors to look at: Geography, GIS, Wildlife Biology.

Outlook

Growing faster than average. Growing.

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI and automated tools now process satellite and GPS-collar data, squeezing entry-level map work; framing questions stays human.

Start now, in high school

Classes: AP Human Geography, Computer science, AP Statistics, AP Environmental Science.

• Learn free QGIS mapping with an online tutorial
• Map local wildlife sightings from iNaturalist
• Join an Envirothon team

Official data: O*NET occupation 15-1299.

More Wildlife & Conservation Biology careers

• Wildlife Veterinarian
• Research Wildlife Biologist
• Endangered Species Program Manager
• Conservation Organization Director
• Wildlife Biologist
• Fish & Game Warden
• Wildlife Forensic Scientist
• Ornithologist
• Wildlife Refuge Manager
• Wildlife Damage Management Specialist
• Wildlife Technician
• Interpretive Park Ranger
• Wildlife Removal Specialist
• Hunting & Fishing Guide
• Wildlife Photographer
• Wildlife Special Agent
• Wildlife Disease Biologist
• Bat Biologist
• Wildlife Capture Specialist
• Camera Trap Technician
• Bear Management Technician
• Game Bird Farmer
• Chronic Wasting Disease Sampling Technician

Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.