Also called: Geospatial Analyst, Mapping Specialist
Makes digital maps and analyzes location data for cities, utilities, and scientists.
You build maps showing flood zones, pipeline routes, or wildlife habitats and run analyses like which homes are within a mile of a wildfire risk.
Based on cartographers and photogrammetrists.
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, geology, or GIS; certificates available.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification, 2-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Geography (GIS), Geology, Environmental Science.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years).
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI now builds maps and runs spatial analyses from plain requests; fewer entry GIS jobs, more need domain skills.
Classes: AP Human Geography, AP Computer Science, Statistics.
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.