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Computer and Mathematical · Holland code CIR

Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians

Assist scientists or related professionals in building, maintaining, modifying, or using geographic information systems (GIS) databases. May also perform some custom application development or provide user support.

Also called: GIS Analyst (Geographic Information Systems Analyst), GIS Coordinator (Geographic Information Systems Coordinator), GIS Specialist (Geographic Information Systems Specialist), GIS Tech (Geographic Information Systems Technician), Geospatial Technician, GIS Admin (Geographic Information Systems Administrator), GIS Analyst (Geographic Information System Analyst), GIS Applications Specialist (Geographic Information Systems Applications Specialist).

O*NET 15-1299.02

At a glance

US median annual pay
$116,580
Middle half earn $79,370 to $157,500. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 4 of 5
Considerable preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.

What the work involves

The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.

  • Review existing or incoming data for currency, accuracy, usefulness, quality, or completeness of documentation.
  • Produce data layers, maps, tables, or reports, using spatial analysis procedures or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, equipment, or systems.
  • Maintain or modify existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases.
  • Select cartographic elements needed for effective presentation of information.
  • Enter data into Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases, using techniques such as coordinate geometry, keyboard entry of tabular data, manual digitizing of maps, scanning or automatic conversion to vectors, or conversion of other sources of digital data.
  • Interpret aerial or ortho photographs.
  • Create, analyze, report, convert, or transfer data, using specialized applications program software.
  • Design, program, or model Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications or procedures.

Skills and knowledge it leans on

Skills

  • Reading Comprehension3.9 / 5
  • Critical Thinking3.6 / 5
  • Active Listening3.5 / 5
  • Writing3.4 / 5
  • Speaking3.4 / 5
  • Monitoring3.4 / 5

Knowledge areas

  • Geography4.4 / 5
  • Computers and Electronics4.2 / 5
  • English Language3.5 / 5
  • Engineering and Technology3.4 / 5
  • Design3.3 / 5
  • Mathematics3.3 / 5

Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.

Who tends to enjoy it

How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.

  • Realistic54
  • Investigative70
  • Artistic22
  • Social16
  • Enterprising16
  • Conventional81

The same work abroad

Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.

European occupation titles (ESCO)

  • cadastral technician · DE Katasteringenieur/Katasteringenieurin · FR géomètre du cadastre
  • cartographer · DE Kartograf/Kartografin · FR cartographe
  • geographic information systems specialist · DE Experte Geoinformationssysteme/Expertin Geoinformationssysteme · FR cartographe géomaticien/cartographe géomaticienne
  • land surveyor · DE Vermessungsingenieur/Vermessungsingenieurin · FR géomètre-topographe
  • hydrographic surveyor · DE Hydrograf/Hydrografin · FR hydrographe
  • geographer · DE Geograf/Geografin · FR géographe

Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)

  • Chartered surveyors (2454)67,300 employed
  • Building and civil engineering technicians (3114)20,100 employed
  • Laboratory technicians (3111)51,100 employed

Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.

Pay across Europe, for the whole group

Median annual earnings of all employees in “Professionals”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.

Median annual earnings, Professionals, by country
CountryMedian pay
Belgium€61,714
Germany€59,529
Ireland€56,877
Austria€55,374
Netherlands€53,595
Sweden€43,567
France€41,515
Spain€35,735
Italy€33,649
Portugal€26,072
Poland€14,380

Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.

Is it a fit for you?

Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.

Take the career interests test

Occupation data: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Values were rounded, tasks limited to the most important eight, and combined with the sources named in each section; O*NET has not reviewed or endorsed this adaptation. Pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. International titles: ESCO, European Commission. UK classification and employment: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence.