Cartographers and photogrammetrists
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists: Collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information provided by geodetic surveys, aerial photographs, and satellite data. Research, study, and prepare maps and other spatial data in digital or graphic form for 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.
Surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and surveying technicians held about 131,000 jobs in 2004. The following tabulation shows the distribution of employment by occupational specialty:
| Surveying and mapping technicians | 65,000 |
| Surveyors | 56,000 |
| Cartographers and photogrammetrists | 11,000 |
The architectural, engineering, and related services industry—including firms that provided surveying and mapping services to other industries on a contract basis—provided 2 out of 3 jobs for these workers. Federal, State, and local governmental agencies provided almost 1 in 6 jobs. Major Federal Government employers are the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the National Geodetic Survey, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Most surveyors in State and local government work for highway departments or urban planning and redevelopment agencies. Construction, mining and utility companies also employ Surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and surveying technicians. Only a small number were self-employed in 2004.
Median annual earnings of cartographers and photogrammetrists were $46,080 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $35,160 and $59,830. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,210 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $74,440.
Median annual earnings of surveyors were $42,980 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $31,940 and $57,190. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,640 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $71,640. Median hourly earnings of surveyors employed in architectural, engineering, and related services were $41,710 in May 2004.
Median annual earnings of surveying and mapping technicians were $30,380 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $23,600 and $40,100. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,140, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $51,070. Median annual earnings of surveying and mapping technicians employed in architectural, engineering, and related services were $28,610 in May 2004, while those employed by local governments had median annual earnings of $34,810.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Surveyors, Cartographers, Photogrammetrists, and Surveying Technicians)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Cartographers and photogrammetrists | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Mining employment: n.a. mean earnings: $60,450 (EC) (def) (IG) | $45,560 | $49,020 | $54,690 | $74,880 | $85,960 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: n.a. mean earnings: $54,530 | $45,200 | $47,830 | $52,100 | $56,380 | $71,370 |
| Utilities employment: 160 mean earnings: $56,890 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,770 | $44,220 | $54,100 | $70,300 | $83,170 |
| Utilities employment: 160 mean earnings: $56,890 | $38,770 | $44,220 | $54,100 | $70,300 | $83,170 |
| Information employment: 370 mean earnings: $44,970 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,840 | $31,830 | $40,070 | $57,300 | $71,660 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 70 mean earnings: $47,200 | $30,130 | $32,790 | $40,280 | $62,620 | $73,760 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: n.a. mean earnings: $43,260 | $24,890 | $31,090 | $39,900 | $54,710 | $69,290 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 50 mean earnings: $31,810 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,840 | $20,580 | $30,780 | $36,090 | $53,930 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 40 mean earnings: n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 40 mean earnings: $34,170 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,580 | $28,860 | $33,120 | $40,180 | $48,170 |
| Real Estate employment: 40 mean earnings: $34,170 | $20,580 | $28,860 | $33,120 | $40,180 | $48,170 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 6,080 mean earnings: $49,970 (EC) (def) (IG) | $28,670 | $35,160 | $45,710 | $60,920 | $79,600 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 6,080 mean earnings: $49,970 | $28,670 | $35,160 | $45,710 | $60,920 | $79,600 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 170 mean earnings: $51,940 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,930 | $40,820 | $51,000 | $62,710 | $76,540 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: n.a. mean earnings: $51,940 | $25,930 | $40,820 | $51,000 | $62,710 | $76,540 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 60 mean earnings: $51,360 (EC) (def) (IG) | $35,420 | $40,680 | $50,700 | $61,760 | $70,980 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 60 mean earnings: $51,130 | $35,200 | $40,430 | $50,170 | $61,580 | $71,140 |
| Educational Services employment: 140 mean earnings: $43,460 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,030 | $34,380 | $41,640 | $50,690 | $59,360 |
| Educational Services employment: 140 mean earnings: $43,460 | $30,030 | $34,380 | $41,640 | $50,690 | $59,360 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 80 mean earnings: $38,230 (EC) (def) (IG) | $26,110 | $30,260 | $37,360 | $44,560 | $53,790 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 80 mean earnings: $37,890 | $26,060 | $30,160 | $37,140 | $44,220 | $53,090 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 3,770 mean earnings: $54,400 (def) (IG) | $32,130 | $40,160 | $53,210 | $67,430 | $81,120 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 3,770 mean earnings: $54,400 | $32,130 | $40,160 | $53,210 | $67,430 | $81,120 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.