17 Series · SOC 17-1021
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $81,390
- Median / year
- $126,950
- Top 10% earn
- +6.4%
- Growth '23–'33
- 14,260
- US workers
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists earn a median of $81,390 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $81,390, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $53,740 (10th percentile) to $126,950 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 14,260 US workers. California pays the most ($102,780), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists earn a median of $81,390, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 75% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Architecture and Engineering, it ranks #21 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 6.4% by 2033.
- $81,390
- Median annual wage
- Top 25%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #21 of 36
- in Architecture and Engineering
- 2.4×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: California at $102,780. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists (SOC 17-1021) pays a national median of $81,390 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $53,740 at the 10th percentile to $126,950 at the 90th, with a mean of $86,690 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 14,260 Americans work in this occupation across 41 reporting states and 77 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +6.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 2 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $102,780, which is +26% above the national figure. The top metro is Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA at $130,820 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$81,390
per year
Median Hourly
$39.13/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$86,690
average
Employment
14,260
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Cartographers and Photogrammetrists pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$81,390 Top 25% higher than 75% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 17-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Cartographers and Photogrammetrists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 17-series occupations with growth data, Cartographers and Photogrammetrists sits on the faster-growing side at +6.4% growth and $81,390 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+6.4%
Faster than average
Annual Openings
1,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
2/100K
Injury Rate
0.5/100
Danger Index
3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Cartographers and Photogrammetrists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Compile data required for map preparation, including aerial photographs, survey notes, records, reports, and original maps.
- ▸ Delineate aerial photographic detail, such as control points, hydrography, topography, and cultural features, using precision stereoplotting apparatus or drafting instruments.
- ▸ Prepare and alter trace maps, charts, tables, detailed drawings, and three-dimensional optical models of terrain using stereoscopic plotting and computer graphics equipment.
- ▸ Study legal records to establish boundaries of local, national, and international properties.
- ▸ Inspect final compositions to ensure completeness and accuracy.
- ▸ Revise existing maps and charts, making all necessary corrections and adjustments.
- ▸ Identify, scale, and orient geodetic points, elevations, and other planimetric or topographic features, applying standard mathematical formulas.
- ▸ Collect information about specific features of the Earth, using aerial photography and other digital remote sensing techniques.
- ▸ Examine and analyze data from ground surveys, reports, aerial photographs, and satellite images to prepare topographic maps, aerial-photograph mosaics, and related charts.
- ▸ Determine guidelines that specify which source material is acceptable for use.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$53,740
25th Percentile
$65,670
Median
$81,390
75th Percentile
$101,960
90th Percentile
$126,950
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 41 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $102,780 | +26% above national |
| 2 | Minnesota | $99,850 | +23% above national |
| 3 | Washington | $96,100 | +18% above national |
| 4 | Nevada | $93,560 | +15% above national |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $92,230 | +13% above national |
| 6 | New York | $89,290 | +10% above national |
| 7 | Alaska | $89,170 | +10% above national |
| 8 | New Jersey | $88,480 | +9% above national |
| 9 | Oregon | $88,240 | +8% above national |
| 10 | Colorado | $86,960 | +7% above national |
| 11 | Virginia | $86,660 | +6% above national |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $86,410 | +6% above national |
| 13 | Iowa | $84,570 | +4% above national |
| 14 | Maryland | $84,360 | +4% above national |
| 15 | Connecticut | $84,100 | +3% above national |
| 16 | Arizona | $82,260 | +1% above national |
| 17 | Nebraska | $81,500 | same as national |
| 18 | North Carolina | $81,080 | same as national |
| 19 | Florida | $79,650 | 2% below national |
| 20 | New Mexico | $79,200 | 3% below national |
| 21 | Maine | $78,670 | 3% below national |
| 22 | Missouri | $76,950 | 5% below national |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $76,760 | 6% below national |
| 24 | Utah | $75,220 | 8% below national |
| 25 | Michigan | $75,090 | 8% below national |
| 26 | Indiana | $74,800 | 8% below national |
| 27 | Texas | $73,970 | 9% below national |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $73,180 | 10% below national |
| 29 | Tennessee | $72,990 | 10% below national |
| 30 | Idaho | $72,930 | 10% below national |
| 31 | South Dakota | $72,910 | 10% below national |
| 32 | South Carolina | $72,260 | 11% below national |
| 33 | Montana | $72,220 | 11% below national |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $72,130 | 11% below national |
| 35 | Kentucky | $71,470 | 12% below national |
| 36 | North Dakota | $71,070 | 13% below national |
| 37 | Ohio | $70,990 | 13% below national |
| 38 | Wyoming | $70,590 | 13% below national |
| 39 | Georgia | $62,630 | 23% below national |
| 40 | Louisiana | $59,990 | 26% below national |
| 41 | Illinois | $54,680 | 33% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 77 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $130,820 | +61% above national |
| 2 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $130,710 | +61% above national |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,330 | +54% above national |
| 4 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $106,000 | +30% above national |
| 5 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $101,810 | +25% above national |
| 6 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $101,480 | +25% above national |
| 7 | Salem, OR | $101,350 | +25% above national |
| 8 | Greeley, CO | $101,050 | +24% above national |
| 9 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $100,550 | +24% above national |
| 10 | Boulder, CO | $100,120 | +23% above national |
| 11 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $100,080 | +23% above national |
| 12 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $98,950 | +22% above national |
| 13 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $97,820 | +20% above national |
| 14 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $97,650 | +20% above national |
| 15 | Reno, NV | $97,650 | +20% above national |
| 16 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $96,450 | +19% above national |
| 17 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $96,390 | +18% above national |
| 18 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $95,060 | +17% above national |
| 19 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $93,430 | +15% above national |
| 20 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $91,600 | +13% above national |
| 21 | Oklahoma City, OK | $91,500 | +12% above national |
| 22 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $90,910 | +12% above national |
| 23 | Madison, WI | $90,230 | +11% above national |
| 24 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $90,030 | +11% above national |
| 25 | Jacksonville, FL | $88,830 | +9% above national |
| 26 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $88,820 | +9% above national |
| 27 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $86,660 | +6% above national |
| 28 | Bend, OR | $86,620 | +6% above national |
| 29 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $86,080 | +6% above national |
| 30 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $85,500 | +5% above national |
| 31 | Anchorage, AK | $84,760 | +4% above national |
| 32 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $84,550 | +4% above national |
| 33 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $83,390 | +2% above national |
| 34 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $82,660 | +2% above national |
| 35 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $82,490 | +1% above national |
| 36 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $82,100 | +1% above national |
| 37 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $81,080 | same as national |
| 38 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $80,850 | 1% below national |
| 39 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $80,430 | 1% below national |
| 40 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $80,160 | 2% below national |
| 41 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $80,030 | 2% below national |
| 42 | Columbus, OH | $79,560 | 2% below national |
| 43 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $79,550 | 2% below national |
| 44 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $79,330 | 3% below national |
| 45 | Asheville, NC | $78,990 | 3% below national |
| 46 | Richmond, VA | $78,850 | 3% below national |
| 47 | Colorado Springs, CO | $78,460 | 4% below national |
| 48 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $78,240 | 4% below national |
| 49 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $78,230 | 4% below national |
| 50 | Carson City, NV | $78,000 | 4% below national |
| 51 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $77,980 | 4% below national |
| 52 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $77,830 | 4% below national |
| 53 | Tucson, AZ | $77,400 | 5% below national |
| 54 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $77,320 | 5% below national |
| 55 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $76,950 | 5% below national |
| 56 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $76,830 | 6% below national |
| 57 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $76,080 | 7% below national |
| 58 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $75,700 | 7% below national |
| 59 | Boise City, ID | $75,520 | 7% below national |
| 60 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $72,990 | 10% below national |
| 61 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $72,890 | 10% below national |
| 62 | Cleveland, OH | $72,420 | 11% below national |
| 63 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $72,400 | 11% below national |
| 64 | Toledo, OH | $72,290 | 11% below national |
| 65 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $72,140 | 11% below national |
| 66 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $71,950 | 12% below national |
| 67 | Lubbock, TX | $71,820 | 12% below national |
| 68 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $68,700 | 16% below national |
| 69 | Wilmington, NC | $66,440 | 18% below national |
| 70 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $65,970 | 19% below national |
| 71 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $65,190 | 20% below national |
| 72 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $64,580 | 21% below national |
| 73 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $64,540 | 21% below national |
| 74 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $64,290 | 21% below national |
| 75 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $60,960 | 25% below national |
| 76 | Missoula, MT | $60,770 | 25% below national |
| 77 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $47,700 | 41% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 17 (architecture and engineering) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Cartographers and Photogrammetrists make? ▼
What state pays Cartographers and Photogrammetrists the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Cartographers and Photogrammetrists? ▼
How dangerous is being a Cartographers and Photogrammetrists? ▼
Is Cartographers and Photogrammetrists a good career? ▼
How does Cartographers and Photogrammetrists pay vary by state? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Cartographers and Photogrammetrists pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $101,960/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $102,780/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.