Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Cartographers and photogrammetrists work at the intersection of technology, spatial information, and visual communication. Nationally, there are about 13,000 workers in this occupation, with a national median annual salary of $78,380. Employment is projected to grow 6.4%, supported by around 1,000 annual openings, indicating a steady flow of opportunities over time. The role draws on a mix of technical and analytical strengths—such as computers and information technology, mathematics, and critical and analytical thinking—along with creativity and innovation. It also rewards people who are detail oriented and strong in problem solving and decision making. Project management and writing and reading skills are important for organizing work and communicating results, while fine motor and mechanical abilities round out the profile. For students, career changers, and experienced professionals, this career offers a combination of stable employment prospects, solid pay, and a skill set that blends quantitative, technical, and creative strengths.
Cartographers and photogrammetrists have a national median annual salary of $78,380, with pay varying notably by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, California stands out with a median salary of $102,780, followed by Washington at $96,100 and Massachusetts at $92,230. New York and Colorado also offer median salaries of $89,290 and $86,960, respectively. At the metro level, some markets offer even higher pay. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro shows a median salary of $125,330, and the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro reports $101,480. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH has a median salary of $90,910, while the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metros offer $86,660 and $85,500. These differences highlight meaningful earning potential variation across states and metro areas.
Cartographers and photogrammetrists have a national employment base of about 13,000 workers and are projected to grow 6.4%. This projected growth is accompanied by approximately 1,000 annual openings, suggesting a consistent level of job opportunity from new positions and turnover. The 6.4% growth rate appears across many of the highlighted states and metro areas, indicating relatively uniform projected expansion in multiple regions. With both current employment and forward-looking demand, the profession offers a combination of existing job presence and anticipated growth. For individuals planning education or a career change, the combination of a defined workforce size, measurable projected growth, and recurring annual openings provides a concrete foundation for long-term career planning. The similar occupations listed—such as various drafting roles, surveying and mapping technicians, and information security analysts—can serve as adjacent paths if job seekers want to explore related options within technical and analytical careers.
Location plays a significant role in opportunities for cartographers and photogrammetrists. Among states, California has the highest median salary at $102,780 and the largest employment level at 1,450, with an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York also offer relatively high median salaries of $92,230 and $89,290, with opportunity scores around 65. Colorado and Washington show median salaries of $86,960 and $96,100 and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area leads with an opportunity score of 77.27, a median salary of $85,500, and employment of 150. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro combines a very high median salary of $125,330 with 330 jobs and an opportunity score of 68.75. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA offer strong combinations of salary, employment, and opportunity scores, giving candidates multiple regional choices.
The typical education for cartographers and photogrammetrists is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education aligns with the breadth of skills associated with the occupation. Key strengths include computers and information technology and mathematics, reflecting the technical and quantitative aspects of the work. Creativity and innovation, along with writing and reading, are also important, supporting both visual design and clear communication. Being detail oriented and strong in critical and analytical thinking and problem solving and decision making is central to success. Project management skills help professionals plan and coordinate their work, while fine motor and mechanical skills contribute to hands-on and precision-oriented tasks. For students and career changers, developing this mix of technical, analytical, creative, and organizational capabilities at the bachelor’s level provides a solid preparation for entering and progressing in this field.
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