Careers in GIS
Consider a Career in GIS
GIS is a key emerging and evolving industry throughout the world.
GIS careers exist in every imaginable discipline, from environmental science to commercial businesses and much more. This wide range of opportunities available lets you combine your passions or interests with GIS for a satisfying and successful career.
Insights
Across the country, tens of thousands of trained [geospatial] workers are needed to fill positions that are going begging.
Emily Stover DeRocco, Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor
What do GIS Professionals Do?
GIS is often associated with making maps, but GIS professionals do much more than that. GIS is used to manage human activities. GIS professionals visualize, analyze, and model our world to help organizations make informed decisions.
GIS careers typically include responsibilities such as
- Cartographic design
- Data analysis
- Computer programming
- Database administration
- Project management
- System administration
Careers in GIS can also encompass business development, managerial, and administrative roles.
Jobs
GIS jobs are varied and pervasive across many different fields.
- Visit Esri's Industries Gateway to learn how GIS is used across government, commercial, and educational organizations.
- View the job listings for a comprehensive overview of the types of organizations currently seeking GIS professionals.
Salary
GIS jobs range from part-time to full-time positions, and salary varies widely by location, discipline, and experience. Salary.com reports the range in the U.S. between $31,387 for an entry-level analyst to $83,333 for a GIS supervisor as of January 2006. View the GISJobs.com Salary Survey for a more in-depth look at salaries.
Skills
Many GIS careers are technical, and GeoCommunity identifies some core skills in "What Skills Does A GIS Analyst Require?" As more businesses discover the benefits of GIS, business acumen is also becoming a highly important skill.
Education
GIS professionals are educated in three main ways.
- Through special certificate programs at colleges and universities (most common)
- Through degree programs at colleges and universities
- As part of their curriculum in other specialties such as while pursuing an urban planning degree
Esri has compiled a database of higher-education institutions you can use to find a program near you.
Videos
Video profiles of GIS professionals from Career Corner TV's Virtual Job Shadow program.
Chris "Fern" Ferner,
Colorado State Forest Service
Ingrid Bruce,
City of Rancho Cucamonga
Michael Fay,
Wildlife Conservation Society
Steve Robinson,
Los Angeles Fire Department
Seth Wiafe,
Loma Linda UniversityGIS Career pathways
need professionals skilled in integrating GIS with their core business. The following sites will help you plan for your GIS career or help you train your workforce in GIS.
- GIS Certification Institute: How to become a certified GIS professional (GISP)
- GeoCommunity: "What Skills Does A GIS Analyst Require?"
- ArcUser Magazine: Secrets to Developing a GIS-Skilled Workforce
- Institute for Advanced Education in Geospatial Sciences: Online workforce training courses tailored to government, education, and industry needs
- University Consortium for Geographic Information Science: Model Curricula Project
Videos
View video profiles of GIS professionals from Career Corner TV's Virtual Job Shadow program:
Find a Job in GIS
You can learn about thousands of open positions around the world at the following geospatial career web sites.
