Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
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.
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Active Learning
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
Key knowledge
- Geography
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Design
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Engineering and Technology
- Education and Training
What the work involves
- 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.
- Revise existing maps and charts, making all necessary corrections and adjustments.
- Compile data required for map preparation, including aerial photographs, survey notes, records, reports, and original maps.
- Inspect final compositions to ensure completeness and accuracy.
- Determine map content and layout, as well as production specifications such as scale, size, projection, and colors, and direct production to ensure that specifications are followed.
- Examine and analyze data from ground surveys, reports, aerial photographs, and satellite images to prepare topographic maps, aerial-photograph mosaics, and related charts.
- Delineate aerial photographic detail, such as control points, hydrography, topography, and cultural features, using precision stereoplotting apparatus or drafting instruments.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Conventional, Investigative, Realistic.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- Post-Secondary Certificate (35.7% of respondents)
- Related experience
- None (35.7%)
- On-the-job training
- Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month (36.1%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 4: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Cartographers and Photogrammetrists is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | Low | Lower on contact with others than 64% of occupations compared | 56% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others” |
| Dealing with the public | Very high | Higher on dealing with the public than 81% of occupations compared | 56% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Teamwork | High | Higher on teamwork than 63% of occupations compared | 55% of surveyed respondents chose “Very important” |
| Freedom to make decisions | Moderate | Lower on freedom to make decisions than 54% of occupations compared | 51% of surveyed respondents chose “Some freedom” |
| Time pressure | Moderate | Higher on time pressure than 59% of occupations compared | 46% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a week or more but not every day” |
| Conflict situations | Low | Lower on conflict situations than 67% of occupations compared | 28% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | Very low | Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 89% of occupations compared | 57% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Consequence of error | Low | Lower on consequence of error than 73% of occupations compared | — |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: moderate
- Conflict situations: low
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: very low
- Consequence of error: low
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: 0.27%
- Occasional contact with others: 11.32%
- Contact with others about half the time: 12.84%
- Contact with others most of the time: 19.11%
- Constant contact with others: 56.47%
n = 16, Incumbent 08/2018
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: 0.76%
- Fairly important: 0.24%
- Important: 29.92%
- Very important: 12.84%
- Extremely important: 56.24%
n = 16, Incumbent 08/2018
Teamwork
- Not important at all: 0.27%
- Fairly important: 0%
- Important: 0.76%
- Very important: 54.88%
- Extremely important: 44.1%
n = 16, Incumbent 08/2018
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: 0%
- Very little freedom: 0.27%
- Limited freedom: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Some freedom: 51.17%
- A lot of freedom: 29.28%
n = 16, Incumbent 08/2018
Time pressure
- Never: 11.32%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 0.51%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 5.16%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 45.76%
- Every day: 37.26%
n = 16, Incumbent 08/2018
Conflict situations
- Never: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a year or more but not every month: 27.99%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 25.49%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 26.48%
- Every day: 0%
n = 16, Incumbent 08/2018
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a year or more but not every month: 57.21%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 27.59%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 0%
- Every day: 0%
n = 15, Incumbent 08/2018
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Fairly serious: 0.99%
- Serious: 27.48%
- Very serious: 16.24%
- Extremely serious: 11.32%
n = 16, Incumbent 08/2018
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O*NET-SOC 17-1021.00 · SOC 17-1021 (exact, high confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8