Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists (SOC 17-1021) earn a median $81,390 a year ($39.13 an hour) in the United States, with 14,260 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What cartographers and photogrammetrists do
Cartographers and photogrammetrists turn raw spatial information into maps, charts, and digital geographic datasets. They gather inputs such as aerial and satellite imagery, survey notes, and existing records, then compile them into products used for legal, social, political, educational, and design purposes. Photogrammetrists specialize in extracting accurate measurements from photographs and remotely sensed images. Day to day, the work includes marking features such as shorelines, roads, elevation, and control points on imagery, revising maps as conditions change, and building or editing layers in geographic information systems. Some staff research property records to place political or legal boundaries correctly, and some build the software methods that process the imagery. The occupation is distinct from surveyors, who take field measurements and set boundaries on the ground, and from geographers, who study spatial patterns as a social science. Finished maps are inspected for completeness and accuracy, and geodetic points and elevations are identified, scaled, and oriented.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a postsecondary certificate.
Also called: Cartographer, Aerial Photogrammetrist, Cadastral Mapper, Cartographic Designer, Cartographic Drafter.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $25.84 | $31.57 | $39.13 | $49.02 | $61.03 | $41.68 | 14,260 |
| Annual | $53,740 | $65,670 | $81,390 | $101,960 | $126,950 | $86,690 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where cartographers and photogrammetrists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $30.33 | $36.24 | $49.41 | $63.21 | $65.14 | $49.85 | 1,450 | 0.08 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $63,080 | $75,370 | $102,780 | $131,470 | $135,490 | $103,690 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $34.44 | $41.46 | $48.00 | $55.73 | $60.41 | $48.13 | 100 | 0.04 | 0.39 |
| Annual | $71,620 | $86,240 | $99,850 | $115,930 | $125,660 | $100,100 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $31.85 | $37.40 | $46.20 | $52.87 | $61.59 | $46.02 | 870 | 0.25 | 2.68 |
| Annual | $66,250 | $77,790 | $96,100 | $109,980 | $128,100 | $95,730 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $32.23 | $37.58 | $44.98 | $49.79 | $58.17 | $44.42 | 180 | 0.12 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $67,040 | $78,170 | $93,560 | $103,570 | $121,000 | $92,380 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $34.98 | $39.17 | $44.34 | $51.89 | $76.14 | $48.77 | 160 | 0.05 | 0.49 |
| Annual | $72,770 | $81,480 | $92,230 | $107,930 | $158,370 | $101,430 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $20.69 | $28.50 | $35.56 | $51.24 | $66.53 | $41.05 | 1,780 | 0.13 | 1.38 |
| Annual | $43,040 | $59,280 | $73,970 | $106,570 | $138,390 | $85,370 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $30.33 | $36.24 | $49.41 | $63.21 | $65.14 | $49.85 | 1,450 | 0.08 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $63,080 | $75,370 | $102,780 | $131,470 | $135,490 | $103,690 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $29.36 | $37.66 | $41.81 | $50.38 | $62.65 | $45.41 | 1,220 | 0.42 | 4.61 |
| Annual | $61,060 | $78,330 | $86,960 | $104,790 | $130,310 | $94,460 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $28.42 | $34.71 | $38.98 | $39.04 | $47.72 | $38.10 | 900 | 0.18 | 1.98 |
| Annual | $59,110 | $72,190 | $81,080 | $81,200 | $99,270 | $79,250 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $31.85 | $37.40 | $46.20 | $52.87 | $61.59 | $46.02 | 870 | 0.25 | 2.68 |
| Annual | $66,250 | $77,790 | $96,100 | $109,980 | $128,100 | $95,730 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $34.45 | $48.55 | $62.90 | $65.14 | $65.14 | $56.08 | 200 | 0.19 | 2.04 |
| Annual | $71,660 | $100,990 | $130,820 | $135,490 | $135,490 | $116,650 | ||||
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | Hourly | $28.81 | $35.56 | $62.84 | $62.84 | $62.84 | $51.37 | 30 | 0.11 | 1.20 |
| Annual | $59,920 | $73,970 | $130,710 | $130,710 | $130,710 | $106,850 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $32.04 | $35.37 | $60.25 | $64.14 | $64.90 | $51.82 | 330 | 0.14 | 1.50 |
| Annual | $66,650 | $73,570 | $125,330 | $133,420 | $135,000 | $107,780 | ||||
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | Hourly | $30.22 | $39.97 | $50.96 | $61.23 | $61.29 | $49.41 | 40 | 0.11 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $62,860 | $83,130 | $106,000 | $127,360 | $127,490 | $102,770 | ||||
| Kansas City, MO-KS | Hourly | $31.25 | $35.52 | $48.95 | $56.13 | $63.11 | $46.52 | 160 | 0.15 | 1.63 |
| Annual | $64,990 | $73,870 | $101,810 | $116,750 | $131,270 | $96,770 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $31.01 | $38.89 | $41.38 | $49.92 | $63.44 | $45.84 | 790 | 0.49 | 5.32 |
| Annual | $64,500 | $80,900 | $86,080 | $103,830 | $131,960 | $95,350 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $31.19 | $40.58 | $41.66 | $54.56 | $65.24 | $47.61 | 740 | 0.24 | 2.57 |
| Annual | $64,880 | $84,410 | $86,660 | $113,490 | $135,710 | $99,020 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $24.28 | $31.79 | $46.34 | $63.17 | $82.97 | $49.85 | 520 | 0.16 | 1.72 |
| Annual | $50,510 | $66,120 | $96,390 | $131,390 | $172,580 | $103,690 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $21.51 | $28.24 | $34.81 | $50.32 | $59.83 | $39.95 | 430 | 0.11 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $44,740 | $58,750 | $72,400 | $104,660 | $124,450 | $83,100 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $33.81 | $37.69 | $48.11 | $58.63 | $62.20 | $48.76 | 430 | 0.21 | 2.24 |
| Annual | $70,320 | $78,400 | $100,080 | $121,940 | $129,380 | $101,420 | ||||
Top industries employing cartographers and photogrammetrists
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 40.8% of cartographers and photogrammetrists nationally (5,820 jobs) at a median $82,200 a year ($39.52 an hour), followed by Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (23.0%) and Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 5,820 | 40.8% | $82,200 | $39.52 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 3,280 | 23.0% | $81,080 | $38.98 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 800 | 5.6% | $79,030 | $37.99 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 510 | 3.6% | $109,300 | $52.55 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 490 | 3.4% | $77,610 | $37.31 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (14,260). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $68,900 for cartographers and photogrammetrists in May 2021 and $81,390 in May 2025, with employment of 12,610 and 14,260.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $68,900 | $33.12 | 12,610 |
| May 2022 | $71,890 | $34.56 | 13,270 |
| May 2023 | $76,210 | $36.64 | 12,330 |
| May 2024 | $78,380 | $37.68 | 12,790 |
| May 2025 | $81,390 | $39.13 | 14,260 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
42 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $49.41 | $102,780 | $63,080 | $135,490 | 1,450 | 0.08 | 0.87 |
| 2 | Minnesota profile | $48.00 | $99,850 | $71,620 | $125,660 | 100 | 0.04 | 0.39 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $46.20 | $96,100 | $66,250 | $128,100 | 870 | 0.25 | 2.68 |
| 4 | Nevada profile | $44.98 | $93,560 | $67,040 | $121,000 | 180 | 0.12 | 1.27 |
| 5 | Massachusetts profile | $44.34 | $92,230 | $72,770 | $158,370 | 160 | 0.05 | 0.49 |
| 6 | New York profile | $42.93 | $89,290 | $37,530 | $126,170 | 230 | 0.02 | 0.26 |
| 7 | Alaska profile | $42.87 | $89,170 | $69,610 | $116,900 | 60 | 0.19 | 2.04 |
| 8 | New Jersey profile | $42.54 | $88,480 | $63,790 | $122,660 | 170 | 0.04 | 0.42 |
| 9 | Oregon profile | $42.42 | $88,240 | $61,460 | $121,560 | 640 | 0.32 | 3.53 |
| 10 | Colorado profile | $41.81 | $86,960 | $61,060 | $130,310 | 1,220 | 0.42 | 4.61 |
| 11 | Virginia profile | $41.66 | $86,660 | $59,480 | $122,480 | 860 | 0.21 | 2.28 |
| 12 | Oklahoma profile | $41.55 | $86,410 | $61,570 | $132,220 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.44 |
| 13 | Iowa profile | $40.66 | $84,570 | $57,600 | $105,300 | 90 | 0.06 | 0.62 |
| 14 | Maryland profile | $40.56 | $84,360 | $58,870 | $131,810 | 450 | 0.16 | 1.77 |
| 15 | Connecticut profile | $40.44 | $84,100 | $52,470 | $122,430 | 150 | 0.09 | 0.94 |
| 16 | Arizona profile | $39.55 | $82,260 | $58,400 | $114,770 | 400 | 0.12 | 1.35 |
| 17 | Nebraska profile | $39.18 | $81,500 | $45,410 | $119,620 | 50 | 0.05 | 0.58 |
| 18 | North Carolina profile | $38.98 | $81,080 | $59,110 | $99,270 | 900 | 0.18 | 1.98 |
| 19 | Florida profile | $38.30 | $79,650 | $59,410 | $109,110 | 610 | 0.06 | 0.67 |
| 20 | New Mexico profile | $38.08 | $79,200 | $48,040 | $113,970 | 70 | 0.08 | 0.86 |
| 21 | Maine profile | $37.82 | $78,670 | $52,580 | $102,430 | 40 | 0.07 | 0.72 |
| 22 | Missouri profile | $37.00 | $76,950 | $50,290 | $116,430 | 170 | 0.06 | 0.65 |
| 23 | Wisconsin profile | $36.90 | $76,760 | $54,400 | $112,510 | 260 | 0.09 | 0.96 |
| 24 | Utah profile | $36.16 | $75,220 | $50,100 | $109,990 | 150 | 0.09 | 0.97 |
| 25 | Michigan profile | $36.10 | $75,090 | $57,720 | $98,350 | 250 | 0.06 | 0.61 |
| 26 | Indiana profile | $35.96 | $74,800 | $40,860 | $98,380 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.12 |
| 27 | Texas profile | $35.56 | $73,970 | $43,040 | $138,390 | 1,780 | 0.13 | 1.38 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania profile | $35.18 | $73,180 | $53,490 | $102,820 | 140 | 0.02 | 0.26 |
| 29 | Tennessee profile | $35.09 | $72,990 | $59,070 | $100,630 | 150 | 0.05 | 0.50 |
| 30 | Idaho profile | $35.06 | $72,930 | $51,790 | $96,100 | 100 | 0.11 | 1.25 |
| 31 | South Dakota profile | $35.05 | $72,910 | $42,300 | $96,600 | 140 | 0.31 | 3.34 |
| 32 | South Carolina profile | $34.74 | $72,260 | $49,280 | $103,220 | 150 | 0.06 | 0.70 |
| 33 | Montana profile | $34.72 | $72,220 | $44,590 | $91,560 | 160 | 0.32 | 3.43 |
| 34 | New Hampshire profile | $34.68 | $72,130 | $43,850 | $104,990 | 70 | 0.11 | 1.14 |
| 35 | Kentucky profile | $34.36 | $71,470 | $46,970 | $105,950 | 90 | 0.05 | 0.51 |
| 36 | North Dakota profile | $34.17 | $71,070 | $37,390 | $97,910 | 80 | 0.18 | 1.94 |
| 37 | Ohio profile | $34.13 | $70,990 | $47,400 | $103,000 | 490 | 0.09 | 0.95 |
| 38 | Wyoming profile | $33.94 | $70,590 | $52,490 | $85,730 | 100 | 0.37 | 4.05 |
| 39 | Georgia profile | $30.11 | $62,630 | $39,090 | $94,330 | 490 | 0.10 | 1.10 |
| 40 | Louisiana profile | $28.84 | $59,990 | $55,870 | $101,400 | ** | ** | ** |
| 41 | Illinois profile | $26.29 | $54,680 | $47,480 | $104,720 | 180 | 0.03 | 0.33 |
| – | Kansas profile | * | * | * | * | 230 | 0.16 | 1.75 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (17-1020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Architecture and Engineering Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 17-1021 Cartographers and Photogrammetrists.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 17-1021, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 17-1021.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.