Cartographers and Photogrammetrists build complex problem solving, judgment and decision making and coordination skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians (90%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians | 90% | $116,580Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 2 | Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | 85% | $122,570Pay for the broader BLS group “Physical Scientists, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 3 | Geographers | 83% | $102,040 | +25% | None |
| 4 | Remote Sensing Technicians | 81% | $62,280Pay for the broader BLS group “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Electrical and Electronics Drafters | 80% | $76,870 | −6% | None |
| 6 | Atmospheric and Space Scientists | 79% | $99,070 | +22% | None |
| 7 | Data Scientists | 77% | $120,230 | +48% | None |
| 8 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 77% | $101,920 | +25% | None |
| 9 | Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists | 75% | $130,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Electronics Engineers, Except Computer” | Not compared | None |
| 10 | Architectural and Civil Drafters | 75% | $66,150 | −19% | None |
Compared with Cartographers and Photogrammetrists, median $81,390. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as cartographers and photogrammetrists (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
90% skill match · $116,580 (broader BLS group)
Operations Analysis · Programming · Quality Control Analysis
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
85% skill match · $122,570 (broader BLS group)
Operations Analysis · Programming · Systems Evaluation
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
83% skill match · $102,040 · +25% pay
Operations Analysis · Systems Analysis · Judgment and Decision Making
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians (90% skill match, median $116,580), Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists (85% skill match, median $122,570) and Geographers (83% skill match, median $102,040), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 12 pay more than cartographers and photogrammetrists at the median. The biggest increases: Database Architects (+71%, $139,500), Software Developers (+67%, $135,980) and Computer Network Architects (+65%, $134,050).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.