Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians

Assist scientists or related professionals in building, maintaining, modifying, or using geographic information systems (GIS) databases. May also perform some custom application development or provide user support.

What They Do

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologists and technicians work with specialized mapping software and databases that link geographic locations with detailed information about those places. They spend their days creating digital maps, collecting and verifying spatial data, and maintaining complex databases that organizations use for planning and decision-making. Much of their work involves using computers to process satellite imagery, GPS coordinates, and survey data, then converting this information into visual maps and analytical reports. They might digitize paper maps, update property boundaries, track environmental changes, or help analyze demographic patterns across different regions.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Computer Science(masters)Stanford University, CA

Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management(masters)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY

Information Science/Studies(professional)University of California-Berkeley, CA

Computer Science(bachelors)California Institute of Technology, CA

Computer Science(bachelors)Carnegie Mellon University, PA

Mathematics and Computer Science(bachelors)Harvey Mudd College, CA

Computer Science(masters)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY

Computer and Information Sciences(masters)Harvard University, MA

Medical Illustration and Informatics(doctoral)Rutgers University-New Brunswick, NJ

Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management(masters)University of Virginia-Main Campus, VA

Computer Science(masters)University of Washington-Seattle Campus, WA

Computer Science(masters)City University of Seattle, WA

Computer Science(masters)Central Washington University, WA

Computer Science(masters)University of Washington-Tacoma Campus, WA

Computer Science(masters)Washington State University, WA

Computer Science(masters)Saint Martin's University, WA

Computer Science(masters)University of Washington-Bothell Campus, WA

Computer Science(bachelors)Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA

Computer Science(masters)Cornell University, NY

Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management(doctoral)Capella University, MN

Computer Science(bachelors)Cornell University, NY

Computer Science(bachelors)Harvard University, MA

Computer Science(bachelors)Brown University, RI

Computer and Information Sciences(masters)Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, GA

Computer Science(bachelors)University of California-Berkeley, CA

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