Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
Architecture and Engineering
Compiles aerial photographs, survey notes, records, and older maps, then traces features such as water, terrain, and built landmarks into new maps and charts. Legal records are studied when property lines matter, and geodetic points, elevations, and other features are scaled and oriented with standard math. Existing maps are revised and final compositions are checked for completeness and accuracy. Some of the work uses stereoscopic plotting equipment or computer graphics; some uses GIS and digital remote sensing. Suits people who like exact visual work, careful reading of source records, and applying formulas to spatial data.
Typical education: Post-Secondary Certificate (vocational/technical)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$81'390
Median Wage Market Position
$81'390
What you might do
- Compile photos, surveys, and records for new maps
- Trace terrain and water features from aerial photos
- Draw maps, charts, and three-dimensional terrain models
- Read legal records to set property boundaries
- Correct older maps when features have changed
- Collect land features from aerial and satellite imagery
Skills that matter
- Compiling aerial photos and survey notes
- Marking control points on aerial photographs
- Drawing maps, charts, and terrain models
- Reading legal records to set boundaries
- Checking finished maps for completeness
- Scaling geodetic points with standard formulas
AI & the future of this role
Image interpretation, map generation, and GIS feature extraction are areas where AI may take over large portions of production work. Legal boundary decisions, field survey judgment, and client-specific cartographic choices still matter, though overall demand for routine mapping could ease.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details