Employers
Mapmaking companies are the primary employers of cartographers. Government agencies, at the federal and the state level, also employ cartographers, as does the military, which has a need for highly specialized maps. In 2022, about 33 percent worked in local government, 20 percent in architectural, engineering, and related firms, and 7 percent worked in management, scientific, and technical consulting businesses.
Starting Out
Most cartographers are hired upon completion of a bachelor's degree in engineering or geography. Job openings come about as the population grows and as employees leave the profession, especially when they retire. A person who is interested in becoming a cartographic technician instead of a full-fledged cartographer may be able to secure an entry-level position after completing a specialized training program. Prospective employers may require a portfolio of completed maps during the interviewing process.
- Agricultural Scientists
- Arborists
- Astrogeologists
- Botanists
- Climate Scientists
- Ecologists
- Environmental Engineers
- Environmental Planners
- Environmental Restoration Planners
- Environmental Scientists
- Environmental Technicians
- Forensic Meteorologists
- Geodetic Surveyors
- Geographers
- Geographic Information Systems Specialists
- Geological Technicians
- Geologists
- Geophysicists
- Geospatial Analytics Specialists
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Geothermal Energy Industry Workers
- Geothermal Production Managers
- Geothermal Technicians
- Groundwater Professionals
- Horticultural Technicians
- Industrial Ecologists
- Meteorologists
- Naturalists
- Oceanographers
- Paleontologists
- Range Managers
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
- Remote Sensing Technicians
- Rewilders
- Soil Conservationists and Technicians
- Soil Scientists
- Space Meteorologist
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians
- Surveyors