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Spatial data & mapping
GIS Analyst
Every question with a where in it is a GIS question.
Typical pay
$52k-$95k
How you get in
Geography or GIS degree plus certificate
Outlook
Steady; developer and analytics skills are the growth
GIS analysts manage spatial data and produce maps and analysis for government, utilities and consulting. It is one of the more accessible technical careers, and adding programming is what separates a mapmaker from an analyst.
A day in the life
- 8:30aUpdate spatial datasets and check data quality
- 10:00aSpatial analysis for a planning or routing question
- 12:00pLunch
- 1:00pBuild a web map application for a department
- 3:00pField data collection review and corrections
- 4:30pProduce map products and documentation
How to get in
Geography or GIS degree
Duration
4 years
Cost
$40,000-$150,000
Credential
BS in geography, GIS or environmental science
- Complete a degree with substantial GIS coursework
- Master ArcGIS Pro and open-source tools like QGIS
- Intern with a city, utility or consulting firm
- Enter as a GIS technician, then analyst
GIS certificate for career changers
Duration
6-18 months
Cost
$3,000-$15,000
Credential
GIS certificate; GISP later
- Complete a GIS certificate program alongside an existing degree
- Build a portfolio of real analysis projects, not just maps
- Target local government, where entry roles are most common
- Pursue GISP certification after accumulating experience
GIS into spatial development
Duration
2-5 years
Cost
$0-$5,000
Credential
None — technical portfolio
- Learn Python and SQL for spatial data
- Move into web GIS development and spatial databases
- Add remote sensing or data engineering skills
- GIS developers earn substantially more than map technicians
What people love
- · Accessible technical career with a bachelor's
- · Government, utility and consulting demand
- · Visually satisfying, tangible output
- · Programming skills raise pay substantially
What wears people down
- · Pure mapping roles pay modestly
- · Data cleanup is much of the work
- · Can become repetitive map production
- · Advancement requires developer or analysis depth