How much does a mapmaker make?
a year · about $39 an hour
A typical mapmaker in the United States makes $81,390 a year, about $39 an hour, about 1.6× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They compare surveys, satellite or aerial images, and elevation data on a computer, then use GIS software to draw or update a map. They check details for accuracy and may visit the area to confirm what the images show.
Did you know? Two overlapping aerial photos can reveal a 3-D landscape, letting mapmakers measure land heights from pictures.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $53,740 and $126,950How do you become one?
In the U.S., mapmakers usually earn a bachelor’s in cartography, geography, geomatics, surveying, or a related field, plus GIS classes and an internship. They often start after college; state licenses depend on duties, and certification is usually optional.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like keeping things organized and figuring things out
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can vary with experience, location, and employer: federal, local, and private employers may pay differently. In-demand GIS or 3-D skills, a needed license or useful certification, complex tasks, and hours worked can also matter; fieldwork may mean longer days.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($102,780), lowest in Texas ($73,970).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $53,740 | $81,390 | $126,950 | about 14,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $102,780 | about 1,000 |
| Washington | $96,100 | about 870 |
| Oregon | $88,240 | about 640 |
| Colorado | $86,960 | about 1,000 |
| Virginia | $86,660 | about 860 |
Official definition: Research, study, and prepare maps and other spatial data in digital or graphic form for one or more purposes, such as legal, social, political, educational, and design purposes. May work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). May design and evaluate algorithms, data structures, and user interfaces for GIS and mapping systems. May collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information provided by geodetic surveys, aerial photographs, and satellite data.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/OOH/architecture-and-engineering/cartographers-and-photogrammetrists
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/17-1021.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- pubs.usgs.gov/publication/tm11C11/full
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY