How to Become a Cartographer
Build maps and geographic data from surveys, satellite imagery and field measurements. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $81,390 per year and faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$81,390/yr
Middle half
$65,670 to $101,960
Job growth
Faster than average
Openings / yr
1,000
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- GIS
- Geodesy
- Data Visualization
- Attention to Detail
Related careers
- Computer Hardware Engineer$161,740 median
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- Aerospace Engineer$134,960 median
- Nuclear Engineer$133,970 median
- Chemical Engineer$125,040 median
- Electrical Engineer$120,630 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Cartographer make?
The median pay for a Cartographer is $81,390 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $65,670 and $101,960 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Cartographer?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Geography and Urban Planning.
Is Cartographer a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 1,000 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Cartographer use most?
Common skills for this role are GIS, Geodesy, Data Visualization, and Attention to Detail.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).