17
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists is a notable career in the 17 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Cartographers and Photogrammetrists against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 17-1021 |
| title | Cartographers and Photogrammetrists |
| onet code | 17-1021.00 |
| description | Research, study, and prepare maps and other spatial data in digital or graphic form for one or more purposes, such as legal, social, political, educational, and design purposes. May work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). May design and evaluate algorithms, data structures, and user interfaces for GIS and mapping systems. May collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information provided by geodetic surveys, aerial photographs, and satellite data. |
| job zone | 4 |
| major group | 17 |
| tot emp | 12,790 |
| a mean | 82,860 |
| a median | 78,380 |
| a pct10 | 50,500 |
| a pct25 | 62,860 |
| a pct75 | 99,650 |
| a pct90 | 121,440 |
| h mean | 39 |
| h median | 37 |
The day-to-day work of a cartographers and photogrammetrists typically centers on compile data required for map preparation, including aerial photographs, survey notes, records, reports, and original maps. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, and Writing. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.31 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working cartographers and photogrammetrists, the most common entry qualification is a Post (35.7%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 41% of incumbents. Entry pathways are mixed; a meaningful minority enters without a four-year degree.
Median annual pay is highest in District of Columbia at $117,960 and lowest in Kansas at $50,500 — a 2.3× spread. The top five states (District of Columbia, California, Connecticut, New York, Washington) average $100,926. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $117,960 | $121,300 | $79,770 | $145,480 | 40 |
| California | $106,610 | $107,520 | $69,340 | $135,330 | 1,070 |
| Connecticut | $94,000 | $90,460 | $65,660 | $126,620 | — |
| New York | $93,030 | $93,760 | $67,050 | $119,690 | 190 |
| Washington | $93,030 | $92,820 | $62,040 | $122,720 | 670 |
| Nevada | $91,550 | $92,950 | $65,320 | $120,510 | 220 |
| Oklahoma | $90,460 | $91,030 | $59,380 | $127,940 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $89,250 | $92,200 | $68,900 | $117,530 | 120 |
| Hawaii | $88,200 | $88,120 | $71,900 | $100,900 | — |
| Minnesota | $86,810 | $85,360 | $51,710 | $112,670 | 120 |
| New Jersey | $85,220 | $87,400 | $60,330 | $117,760 | 130 |
| Oregon | $82,810 | $85,900 | $59,680 | $117,530 | 600 |
| Maryland | $82,760 | $92,000 | $60,470 | $128,940 | 550 |
| North Dakota | $82,760 | $73,200 | $35,360 | $96,830 | 40 |
| Maine | $81,620 | $79,450 | $55,700 | $107,790 | 60 |
| Ohio | $80,290 | $83,390 | $58,880 | $113,420 | 320 |
| Alaska | $79,220 | $83,790 | $63,040 | $111,320 | 70 |
| Colorado | $78,030 | $85,620 | $60,470 | $123,380 | 1,380 |
| Virginia | $77,930 | $84,010 | $44,130 | $131,320 | 750 |
| Iowa | $77,630 | $81,210 | $62,440 | $107,600 | 80 |
| Missouri | $77,380 | $79,660 | $53,360 | $117,370 | 220 |
| Wisconsin | $77,100 | $80,780 | $61,970 | $106,020 | 210 |
| North Carolina | $76,680 | $76,570 | $52,100 | $104,210 | 600 |
| Nebraska | $75,360 | $77,700 | $46,060 | $116,260 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $74,990 | $75,210 | $49,460 | $98,710 | 150 |
| Arizona | $74,970 | $76,760 | $51,830 | $104,330 | 360 |
| Mississippi | $74,520 | $76,180 | $58,400 | $104,330 | 50 |
| South Dakota | $72,640 | $70,440 | $44,260 | $93,890 | 170 |
| Michigan | $72,280 | $76,190 | $60,050 | $98,640 | 210 |
| Texas | $71,970 | $79,860 | $47,290 | $121,850 | 1,550 |
| Illinois | $71,330 | $76,870 | $54,830 | $104,830 | — |
| New Hampshire | $70,190 | $70,500 | $34,670 | $100,870 | 110 |
| Florida | $70,120 | $73,970 | $49,380 | $105,130 | 500 |
| Alabama | $70,110 | $76,180 | $43,750 | $116,830 | 30 |
| Pennsylvania | $69,790 | $68,830 | $47,160 | $92,000 | 90 |
| Idaho | $69,390 | $69,800 | $42,080 | $96,200 | 110 |
| Utah | $65,250 | $71,780 | $48,480 | $104,710 | 200 |
| Kentucky | $64,180 | $63,840 | $40,560 | $88,950 | 140 |
| Wyoming | $63,760 | $68,470 | $48,150 | $84,640 | 100 |
| Montana | $60,920 | $65,550 | $48,250 | $94,400 | — |
| South Carolina | $60,170 | $66,920 | $47,690 | $95,640 | 110 |
| Georgia | $55,150 | $60,750 | $35,240 | $91,650 | 590 |
| West Virginia | $54,870 | $58,760 | $27,990 | $91,890 | 40 |
| Kansas | $50,500 | $65,590 | $49,360 | $104,030 | 260 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for cartographers and photogrammetrists. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Aerial Photogrammetrist or Cadastral Mapper frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Cartographers and Photogrammetrists compares to others in the 17 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.