How to become a Geographic Information Systems Technologist or Technician

Official title: Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians

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

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.

Main tasks

• 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.

How to become one

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Ways in

• College: Computing & IT degrees, Offered by 34 universities in the US
• Licence: A licence is required in 8 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $116,580 a year The middle half earn $79,370 to $157,500.
• About 471,200 people work in this job now, and about 495,300 are projected by 2035. (+5.1%)
• People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Related jobs

• Web Administrators
• Document Management Specialists
• Penetration Testers
• Information Security Engineers
• Digital Forensics Analysts
• Blockchain Engineers

Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz

Questions people ask

How do I become a Geographic Information Systems Technologist or Technician?

Ways in include: Computing & IT degrees.

How much does a Geographic Information Systems Technologist or Technician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $116,580 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $79,370 to $157,500.

Is a Geographic Information Systems Technologist or Technician a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 471,200 to about 495,300 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Geographic Information Systems Technologist or Technician?

Not always. 57% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Computing & IT degrees.

Will AI change the work of a Geographic Information Systems Technologist or Technician?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.