Headline risk
21%
Moderate RiskCartographers and photogrammetrists
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
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.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 12% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 78,380
Employment 2024
13.4K
Projected Change (2024–34)
6.4%
Openings (2024–34)
1.0K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of cartographers and photogrammetrists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Compile data required for map preparation, including aerial photographs, survey notes, records, reports, and original maps. AI use: 0%
- 2. Revise existing maps and charts, making all necessary corrections and adjustments. AI use: 0%
- 3. Inspect final compositions to ensure completeness and accuracy. AI use: 0%
- 4. Delineate aerial photographic detail, such as control points, hydrography, topography, and cultural features, using precision stereoplotting apparatus or drafting instruments. AI use: 0%
- 5. Prepare and alter trace maps, charts, tables, detailed drawings, and three-dimensional optical models of terrain using stereoscopic plotting and computer graphics equipment. AI use: 0%
- 6. Build and update digital databases. AI use: 92%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 44.7 · 1.8M employed
Under 25: 5% · 25–54: 68% · 55+: 27%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
crosswalk_exact · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Cartographers and photogrammetrists collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information to create and update maps and related products.
Although cartographers and photogrammetrists spend much of their time in an office setting, some jobs require travel to locations that are being mapped. Most work full time.
Cartographers and photogrammetrists typically need a bachelor’s degree in cartography, geography, geomatics, surveying, or a related field.
The median annual wage for cartographers and photogrammetrists was $78,380 in May 2024.
Employment of cartographers and photogrammetrists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.