Cartographers and Photogrammetrists Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 17-1021 · National · May 2024 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$78,374
$37.68/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated Apr 3, 2025
Source: BLS OEWS · Published Apr 2, 2025
Next refresh: May 15, 2026
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The national median salary for Cartographers and Photogrammetrists is $78,374 per year ($37.68/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024. The middle 50% of earners make between $62,858 and $99,653 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $121,451 per year. There are approximately 12,790 cartographers and photogrammetrists employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Research, study, and prepare maps and other spatial data in digital or graphic form for one or more purposes, such as 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. May collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information provided by geodetic surveys, aerial photographs, and satellite data.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+6.4%
Faster than average
Annual openings
1K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
13K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
9% from new growth91% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
NAICS 999300
5K
$79,690
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
NAICS 541300
2K
$69,110
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
NAICS 541600
980
$71,680
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
NAICS 999100
560
$106,850
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
NAICS 999200
510
$74,090
Wage range across top 5 industries: $69,110 to $106,850 (55% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$24.28
$50,502
P25
$30.22
$62,858
P50MEDIAN
$37.68
$78,374
P75
$47.91
$99,653
P90
$58.39
$121,451
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · professional sector
Cooling
Openings Rate
4.2%
Quits Rate
2.0%
Professional & Business Services openings tumbled 318K in March -- the largest single-sector drop in this release. Openings rate fell from 5.5% to 4.2%. Layoffs jumped to 527K (+99K). White-collar demand has cooled abruptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cartographers and photogrammetrists salary?
The national median salary for Cartographers and Photogrammetrists is $78,374 per year ($37.68/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2024 data. The middle 50% earn between $62,858 and $99,653 annually.
How much do top-earning cartographers and photogrammetrists make?
The 90th percentile salary for Cartographers and Photogrammetrists is $121,451 per year ($58.39/hr). The 75th percentile is $99,653 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for cartographers and photogrammetrists?
Entry-level Cartographers and Photogrammetrists (10th percentile) earn approximately $50,502 per year ($24.28/hr). The 25th percentile is $62,858 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
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