Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technician
Impact: Data-driven decision support, Environmental stewardship, Infrastructure planning
Collects, processes, and analyzes geospatial data to create maps and support various projects. Provides technical assistance and support for GIS software and data maintenance procedures.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- 60% Team / 40% Solo
- Client facing
- Sometimes
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Minimal
- Schedule flexibility
- Flexible
- Remote work
- Hybrid
- Typical work hours
- 40 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $65,000
- Entry-level
- $45,000 - $55,000
- Senior
- $80,000+
- Growth by 2033
- 5% (faster than average)
- Demand
- Growing
- Freelance potential
- Moderate
- Salary growth potential
- Moderate to 45-60% growth from entry to senior
- Typical student debt
- $20,000 - $30,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- ArcGIS
- QGIS
- Geospatial data analysis
- Cartography
- Python scripting
- GPS technology
Soft skills
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Adaptability
Technical complexity: High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Associate's Degree
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 3-5 years
- Years to senior
- 7-10 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- GIS Technician
- GIS Analyst
- Senior GIS Analyst
- GIS Manager
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 20% to low risk due to specialized data interpretation and problem-solving
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Growing
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 3.4/10
- Meaning
- 3.6/10
- Work-life balance
- 3.5/10
- Prestige
- 6.5/10
- Social perception
- Moderate