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Geographic Information Systems Specialists

Earnings

GIS specialists received average salaries of $62,290 in 2024, according to PayScale.com. Earnings ranged from $46,000 to $83,000 or more. 

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) classifies the career of GIS specialist under the general category of cartographer. In May 2023, median annual earnings for cartographers were $76,210. Salaries ranged from less than $48,660 to $113,540 or more. The DOL reports that cartographers employed by local government agencies earned mean annual salaries of $78,300, while those who worked at the federal level earned $104,770. 

Full-time GIS specialists usually receive benefits such as vacation days, sick leave, health and life insurance, and a savings and pension program. Self-employed specialists must provide their own benefits.