Also called: Mapmaker, Photogrammetrist, Lidar Analyst
Makes maps and 3D models of the land from aerial photos, drones, lidar and satellite data.
You load millions of laser points scanned from an airplane and build a 3D model of a forest, then strip away the trees to reveal old roads hidden underneath. Your map helps a county plan for wildfires.
Approximate May 2024 figures.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in geography, geomatics, GIS or surveying.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Geography, Geomatics, GIS.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). Approximate projection.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI automatically extracts roads, buildings and terrain from imagery, shrinking mapmaking jobs; checking and special projects stay human.
Classes: Geography, Computer science, Earth science, Art or design.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-1021.
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.