Now You Know

GIS in the News

GIS is used to track the impact of Hurricane Katrina relative to elevation, race, population density and income. Click on the image to enlarge this map.

Image Copyright ©2005
The New York Times and reprinted here with permission.

Getting a GIS Job

What would I do in a GIS job?

Geographic Information System (GIS) connects information about a feature (for example, a town, river, county, shipwreck, or polar bear wearing tracking device) with its location on our planet. If you got a GIS job, you would use computers and spatial data—like digital maps and satellite photos—to make decisions about the environment, health care, law enforcement, natural disasters, and many other community issues.

What type of GIS job could I pursue?

Traditionally, only geographers used GIS to study spatial relationships. But now, people in many different fields use GIS technology.

    Ecologists use GIS to study the impact of runoff on stream ecosystems.

    Biologists use GIS to track wolves, birds, deer and other wildlife.

    Geologists use GIS to search for oil, gas and minerals.

    Business managers use GIS to pick the best locations for new stores and billboards.

    City planners use GIS to identify bus routes and expand schools and roads.

    Firefighters use GIS to determine the best strategy to contain wildfires.

Check out the New York Times to see how geographers and geologists are using GIS maps to study the impact of Hurricane Katrina. See GIS in the News, above.

Also read this U.S. Department of Labor article to learn more about the diversity of GIS career opportunities. This 16-page PDF may take a few moments to load. Please be patient.


Will I be able to find a GIS job and how much money will I make?
More than 170,000 people work in GIS and other geospatial jobs. They work for the government, private businesses and universities and typically make between $25,000 to $75,000 per year. These jobs are expected to grow by 9-14% per year, so an experienced GIS professional is and will continue to be in high demand. You can read more about this job growth in two recent articles in Nature and Science Magazine .


What type of training or degree will I need to get a GIS job?
It varies depending on the type of job you are interested in. For most GIS jobs you will need a degree from a two-year or four-year college or university. Prior experience with GIS in middle or high school or in an internship will also help you land your first job.

Some universities offer a degree specifically in GIS. (Check out Clark University for their unique GIS program.) But most GIS professionals get a Bachelor’s degree in a related field and take classes in GIS. These related fields include agriculture, meteorology, biology, environmental science, geology, city planning, and economics. If you want to lead GIS projects and investigations, you should consider going on to graduate school for a Master’s or Ph.D. degree.

Here are some recent examples of actual GIS jobs.

    GIS Technician at Canaan Valley Institute in Davis, WV
    Job duties: Collect spatial data in the field using Global Positioning System (GPS) and help create maps for local community organizations.
    Example of Education Background: Two-year Associates Degree in Applied Science from Garrett College in McHenry, MD

    City Planner at the Allegany County Planning Services in Cumberland, MD
    Job duties: Collect, analyze and manage spatial data for the county and provide maps and reports to other county offices such as the police and fire departments.
    Example of Education Background: Four-year Bachelor’s of Science degree in Environmental Analysis and Planning from Frostburg State University in Frostburg, MD

    Staff hydrogeologist for Daniel B. Stephens & Associates (DBS&A) in Santa Barbara, CA
    Job duties: Use GIS to examine environmental and geologic data at contaminated sites, and determine causes of contamination.
    Example of Education Background: Four-year Bachelor’s Degree in Geology and two-year Master’s of Science degree in Geology with GIS/Remote Sensing Emphasis from West Virginia State University in Morgantown, WV


You can learn more about what GIS professionals do at the Virtual Job Shadow website.

You can find current GIS job listings at the GIS Jobs Clearinghouse and read more about GIS careers at the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)--a leader in GIS software and applications.