Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians 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 Cartographers and Photogrammetrists (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 | Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | 90% | $81,390 | — | None |
| 2 | Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | 87% | $122,570Pay for the broader BLS group “Physical Scientists, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 3 | Geodetic Surveyors | 86% | $75,440Pay for the broader BLS group “Surveyors” | Not compared | None |
| 4 | Remote Sensing Technicians | 86% | $62,280Pay for the broader BLS group “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Surveying and Mapping Technicians | 84% | $54,240 | — | None |
| 6 | Data Scientists | 81% | $120,230 | — | None |
| 7 | Geographers | 79% | $102,040 | — | None |
| 8 | Bioinformatics Technicians | 78% | $81,490Pay for the broader BLS group “Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 9 | Statistical Assistants | 76% | $50,330 | — | None |
| 10 | Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists | 76% | $130,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Electronics Engineers, Except Computer” | Not compared | None |
Compared with Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians, median —. 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 geographic information systems technologists and technicians (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 · $81,390
Instructing · Time Management
87% skill match · $122,570 (broader BLS group)
Systems Evaluation · Systems Analysis · Operations Analysis
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
86% skill match · $75,440 (broader BLS group)
Repairing · Operation and Control · Instructing
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Cartographers and Photogrammetrists (90% skill match, median $81,390), Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists (87% skill match, median $122,570) and Geodetic Surveyors (86% skill match, median $75,440), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
None of the 25 closest matches pays more than geographic information systems technologists and technicians at the national median (BLS May 2025). Higher-paying moves usually need more training.
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.