Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Using computers, software, digital systems, and technology to complete work and solve problems.
Paying close attention to accuracy, quality, instructions, and small but important details.
Understanding written information and communicating ideas clearly in writing.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Cartographer or Photogrammetrist Cartographers and photogrammetrists usually learn to create maps through degrees in cartography, geography, geomatics, or surveying. Cartographers and photogrammetrists typically need a bachelor’s degree in cartography, geography, geomatics, surveying, or a related field. Some cartographers and photogrammetrists may need to be licensed.
Education
Cartographers and photogrammetrists typically need a bachelor’s degree in cartography, geography, geomatics, surveying, or a related field. (Geomatics combines a variety of disciplines, such as engineering, natural resources, and mathematics.) Coursework in these programs may include Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, remote sensing, and other technical subjects. Aspiring cartographers and photogrammetrists may gain practical experience while in school by completing internships, such as in GIS, with private firms or government agencies.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Licensing requirements for cartographers and photogrammetrists vary. They may be state- or employer-specific and depend on job duties. Information on state licensing board requirements is available from CareerOneStop. Certification for cartographers and photogrammetrists is usually optional. Certification may demonstrate competence and may make candidates more competitive when looking for a job. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop.
Your Next Step
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of cartographers and photogrammetrists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 900 openings for cartographers and photogrammetrists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment The use of maps for government planning should lead to employment growth. Cartographers and photogrammetrists also will be needed to map and locate areas that require help during natural disasters, often using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Cartographers and Photogrammetrists Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Cartographers and photogrammetrists 7% Architects, surveyors, and cartographers 5% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Cartographers and Photogrammetrists Do
Cartographers and photogrammetrists collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information to create and update maps and related products.
Duties
Cartographers and photogrammetrists typically do the following:
- Collect and analyze data from surveys, satellite images, and other sources
- Create visualizations of data, such as annual precipitation patterns and elevation
- Develop maps that integrate Geographic Information System (GIS) data for geospatial context
- Prepare static or interactive maps in print, digital, or graphic format
- Update and revise existing maps and charts
Cartographers and photogrammetrists are mapmakers. They use information from a variety of sources to create visualizations of the world on a small scale.
Cartographers and photogrammetrists gather and analyze spatial measurements, images, and data about the Earth’s topography to build maps. They integrate information from sources such as land surveys and light-imaging detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology using GIS, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), and other software.
Cartographers and photogrammetrists may tailor mapping information to support a variety of decisions, such as those related to land use, the environment, or marketing. For example, they might create maps for an urban planning project that show population density, elevations, buildings, and roads.
In addition to designing static maps on paper, cartographers and photogrammetrists prepare interactive maps for digital applications that include websites, cell phones, and navigation systems. They also may create enhanced products for specific users, such as tactile maps for people who are visually impaired.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Cartographers and photogrammetrists held about 14,700 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of cartographers and photogrammetrists were as follows:
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 41% |
| Architectural, engineering, and related services | 22 |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | 5 |
| Federal government | 4 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 4 |
Although cartographers and photogrammetrists spend much of their time in an office setting, some jobs require fieldwork to collect data and verify results. For example, cartographers and photogrammetrists may travel to the locations they are mapping to examine the topography and validate survey measurements.
Work Schedules
Most cartographers and photogrammetrists work full time. They may have longer workdays while doing fieldwork.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Communication skills. Cartographers and photogrammetrists must be able to convey technical information clearly in nontechnical ways. Both written and oral communication are important. Computer skills. Cartographers and photogrammetrists must be able to work with GIS and other technology to collect and process data and with software to create maps. Critical-thinking skills. Cartographers and photogrammetrists interpret information from a variety of sources, as well as from existing maps, surveys, and other records. They must be able to determine the accuracy and relevance of the features they are mapping. Detail oriented. Cartographers and photogrammetrists must pay attention to detail when interpreting data and deciding what information to include in maps. Problem-solving skills. Cartographers and photogrammetrists must be able to reconcile differences between aerial photographs, land surveys, satellite images, and other sources they integrate into maps.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about cartographers and photogrammetrists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.