Geographic information science and technology stand at the forefront of numerous initiatives and applications. As a result, jobs in GIS are uniquely diverse, and they tend to offer a challenging blend of creative and analytical thinking; the most successful GIS professionals have the technical and analytical acumen to understand complex information and how different sets of information relate to each other, but they can also think forward to how this information can be used to solve a problem.
USC GIST students have pursued careers ranging from analyst roles at “Big 4” accounting firms, environmental preservation organizations, enterprise software companies and government organizations.
2018 USC GIST Student Outcome Survey:
More than one-third of our alumni report salaries of $75,000 or more.
The list below includes salary information for many common GIS job titles. However, the potential career opportunities for professionals with a GIS degree are infinitely expansive and will become even more varied as organizations increasingly leverage spatial data and analytics.
Contact an enrollment advisor if you have questions related to your specific career goals.
(Salary data compiled from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Paysa.com and PayScale from 2017 and 2018)
GIS Data Acquisition and Integration Careers
| Job Title | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Surveyor | $61,140 |
| Cartographer/Photogrammetrist | $63,990 |
| Geographer | $76,860 |
| Geographic Information Systems Technician (Entry-level) | $40,908 |
| Senior Geographic Information Systems Technician | $62,000 |
Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization Careers
| Job Title | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Lead Geographic Information Systems Analyst | $69,919 |
| Geographic Information Systems Coordinator | $55,301 |
| Geospatial Analyst | $57,565 |
| Senior Geographic Information Systems Specialist | $60,782 |
GIS Software Development Careers
| Job Title | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Geographic Information Systems Software Engineer | $70,000 |
| Geographic Information Systems Web Developer | $60,903 |
| Senior Software Engineer (Geospatial Mapping Services Industry) | $81,095* |
*Average salary reported instead of median
GIS Management and Leadership Careers
| Job Title | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Geographic Information Systems Project Manager | $72,647 |
| Geographic Information Systems Manager | $68,447 |
| Geographic Information Systems Director | $95,048 |
Geospatial Intelligence Careers
| Job Title | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Intelligence Analyst (with GEOINT skill) | $71,331* |
| Geospatial Analyst | $57,565 |
| Imagery Analyst | $68,341 |
| Senior Intelligence Analyst (with GEOINT skill) | $96,418 |
*Average salary reported instead of median
Geospatial Leadership Careers
| Job Title | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Senior Staff Systems Engineer | $138,569* |
| Intelligence Officer (with GEOINT skill) | $90,000 |
| Senior Geospatial Analyst | $78,624* |
*Average salary reported instead of median
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Catalina Island Excursion
Students in the M.S. in GIST, M.S. in HSGI and graduate certificate in GIST programs will participate in a week-long fieldwork excursion...