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.

From people doing the work

Day-to-day work often involves cleaning and preparing spatial data, running analyses in GIS software, and creating maps. It's a mix of technical problem-solving and understanding geographic concepts. You spend a lot of time troubleshooting data issues and ensuring accuracy, which can be tedious but when you see the final map or analysis come together. Collaboration with other departments is common, explaining complex spatial information to non-technical colleagues.

Drawn from r/gis, Esri Community, GIS Stack Exchange

Attribution: Composite

Composite · Synthesised from r/gis, Esri Community, GIS Stack Exchange

A day in the life of Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians

People interaction
Extensive
Team vs solo
85% Team / 15% Solo
Client facing
Sometimes
Impact visibility
Moderate
Travel
Occasional
Schedule flexibility
Flexible
Remote work
Mostly Remote
Typical work hours
40-50
Stress level
Moderate

Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians salary, education and outlook at a glance

Median salary
$140,910
Entry-level
$99,000
Senior
$211,000
Growth by 2033
+19.7%
Demand
Growing Fast
Freelance potential
High
Salary growth potential
113%
Typical student debt
Moderate

Skills you need as Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians

Hard skills

  • Geography
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Web platform development software

Soft skills

  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Critical Thinking

Technical complexity: Low

Tools of the trade

Core tools

  • ArcGIS (Software): Primary platform for GIS data management, analysis, and visualization.
  • QGIS (Software): Open-source desktop GIS for data visualization, editing, and processing.
  • PostGIS (Database): Spatial database extender for PostgreSQL to store and query geographic objects.

Commonly used

  • Python (Language): Scripting and automating various GIS tasks and data processing workflows.
  • SQL (Language): Querying and managing spatial databases to extract and manipulate geographic information.
  • GPS Devices (Hardware): Collecting accurate field data for mapping and spatial analysis.

Specialist tools

  • Google Earth Engine (Platform): Cloud-based platform for planetary-scale geospatial analysis and data visualization.

How to become Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians

Minimum education
Associate's Degree
Licensing
No
Years to mid-career
4-7
Years to senior
10-15
Career switching
Moderate

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

  • Cartographer: Creates maps and charts for various purposes, often using GIS tools but with a stronger focus on design and visual representation.
  • Surveyor: Measures and maps the earth's surface, providing foundational data that GIS professionals often utilize.
  • Data Entry Clerk: Responsible for inputting and maintaining data, which can be a starting point for specializing in GIS data management.

Where you can go from here

  • GIS Analyst: Focuses more on interpreting spatial data, performing complex analyses, and generating insights for decision-making.
  • Geospatial Developer: Develops custom applications and tools using programming languages to extend GIS functionalities.
  • Remote Sensing Specialist: Analyzes satellite and aerial imagery to extract information about the Earth's surface, often integrating with GIS.

Typical progression

  1. Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians
  2. Data Scientists
  3. Database Architects
  4. or Computer Systems Analysts

Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians job outlook and future demand

Automation probability
Moderate
AI disruption risk
Moderate
Demand trend
Growing Fast

Job satisfaction as Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians

Overall satisfaction
7.5/10
Meaning
7/10
Work-life balance
7/10
Prestige
8/10
Social perception
Very High

Where practitioners gather

Professional organisations

Conferences

  • GIScience: A premier international conference series on geographic information science.

Reddit communities

  • r/gis: A subreddit for discussions, news, and resources related to Geographic Information Systems.

Online communities

  • Esri Community: An online forum for users of Esri products to share knowledge and get support.
  • GIS Stack Exchange: A question and answer site for people interested in geographic information systems.

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