Cartographers and Photogrammetrists Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of cartographers and photogrammetrists to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035 (about 1,100 more jobs), with about 900 openings a year, and the May 2025 median pay of $81,390 a year ranks 209th of 825 occupations.
- Projected change
- +7.4%
- Openings a year
- 900
- Median pay
- $81,390
- Pay rank
- 209th of 825
Is employment of cartographers and photogrammetrists growing or shrinking?
Growing: BLS projects employment of cartographers and photogrammetrists to rise 7.4% (about 1,100 more jobs) from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% projected across all occupations. That is faster than the +6.8% summed from BLS's employment levels across the 36 architecture and engineering occupations with a projection. That change ranks 111th of 830 projected occupations.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Employment, 2025 | 14,700 |
| Employment, 2035 | 15,700 |
| Projected change | +7.4% |
| Openings a year | 900 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035. A projection is a BLS estimate, not a count. The 14,700 jobs here differ from the 14,260 on the salary page because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed and a wider set of workers, while OEWS counts wage and salary jobs in May 2025. BLS published these projections on August 27, 2026; checked November 10, 2026. Confirm any figure in the BLS Employment Projections tables.
BLS's reasons for this projection are at the Occupational Outlook Handbook. State projections are at Projections Central; projections by industry are left to BLS. Education, licensing and work context at O*NET.
How many job openings are there each year?
About 900 openings a year, from job growth and from workers leaving the occupation, the 679th most of 830 occupations. About 88% of them replace workers who change occupations or leave the labor force; the rest come from the 110 jobs added in an average year.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
How does pay for cartographers and photogrammetrists rank?
The median of $81,390 a year ranks 209th of 825 occupations with a published median. It sits in the upper half of occupations on pay and the lower half on openings.
Source: BLS OEWS national file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Ranks count only the occupations with that published figure: 830 for projected change, 830 for openings, 825 for median pay, which is why the totals differ.
What does it take to start?
- Typical entry-level education: bachelor's degree.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, education and training assignments.
How do related jobs compare on outlook?
| Occupation | Change | Openings a year | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | +5.8% | 6,900 | $54,240 |
| Surveyors | +5.8% | 3,100 | $75,440 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | +5.2% | 9,100 | $66,150 |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | -3.4% | 1,400 | $76,870 |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | +4.8% | 1,500 | $67,820 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | +3.2% | 6,100 | $64,950 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | +5.1% | 27,000 | $116,580 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | +4.4% | 11,200 | $62,280 |
Related occupations from O*NET; projections from BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.