Cartographers and Photogrammetrists salary in the U.S.
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists in the U.S. earn a median of $81,390 a year ($39.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,260 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $126,950 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $86,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cartographers and photogrammetrists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,740 | $25.84 |
| 25th percentile | $65,670 | $31.57 |
| Median | $81,390 | $39.13 |
| 75th percentile | $101,960 | $49.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,950 | $61.03 |
| Average (mean) | $86,690 | $41.68 |
Half of cartographers and photogrammetrists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,782.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,391.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,130.38 |
| Weekly | $1,565.19 |
| Hourly | $39.13 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $102,780 | 1,450 |
| Minnesota | $99,850 | 100 |
| Washington | $96,100 | 870 |
| Nevada | $93,560 | 180 |
| Massachusetts | $92,230 | 160 |
| New York | $89,290 | 230 |
| Alaska | $89,170 | 60 |
| New Jersey | $88,480 | 170 |
| Oregon | $88,240 | 640 |
| Colorado | $86,960 | 1,220 |
| Virginia | $86,660 | 860 |
| Oklahoma | $86,410 | 70 |
| Iowa | $84,570 | 90 |
| Maryland | $84,360 | 450 |
| Connecticut | $84,100 | 150 |
| Arizona | $82,260 | 400 |
| Nebraska | $81,500 | 50 |
| North Carolina | $81,080 | 900 |
| Florida | $79,650 | 610 |
| New Mexico | $79,200 | 70 |
| Maine | $78,670 | 40 |
| Missouri | $76,950 | 170 |
| Wisconsin | $76,760 | 260 |
| Utah | $75,220 | 150 |
| Michigan | $75,090 | 250 |
| Indiana | $74,800 | 40 |
| Texas | $73,970 | 1,780 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,180 | 140 |
| Tennessee | $72,990 | 150 |
| Idaho | $72,930 | 100 |
| South Dakota | $72,910 | 140 |
| South Carolina | $72,260 | 150 |
| Montana | $72,220 | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $72,130 | 70 |
| Kentucky | $71,470 | 90 |
| North Dakota | $71,070 | 80 |
| Ohio | $70,990 | 490 |
| Wyoming | $70,590 | 100 |
| Georgia | $62,630 | 490 |
| Louisiana | $59,990 | n/a |
| Illinois | $54,680 | 180 |
Best-paying metro areas for cartographers and photogrammetrists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $130,820 | 200 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $130,710 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,330 | 330 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $106,000 | 40 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $101,810 | 160 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $101,480 | 300 |
| Salem, OR | $101,350 | 60 |
| Greeley, CO | $101,050 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $100,550 | 130 |
| Boulder, CO | $100,120 | 80 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $100,080 | 430 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $98,950 | 70 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $97,820 | 60 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $97,650 | 50 |
| Reno, NV | $97,650 | 30 |
Metro areas with the most cartographers and photogrammetrists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 790 | $86,080 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 740 | $86,660 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 520 | $96,390 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 430 | $72,400 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 430 | $100,080 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 380 | $93,430 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 330 | $125,330 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 300 | $101,480 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 280 | $65,190 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 270 | $88,820 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 200 | $130,820 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 190 | $76,080 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 170 | $78,230 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 160 | $101,810 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 150 | $85,500 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $99,280 | $47.73 |
| Surveyor | $75,440 | $36.27 |
| Landscape Architect | $79,870 | $38.40 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 | $48.48 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 | $49.25 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 | $50.05 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 | $58.00 |
| Engineers, All Other | $122,930 | $59.10 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $66,150 | $31.80 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $130,220 | $62.60 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $78,190 | $37.59 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $161,740 | $77.76 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $66,120 | $31.79 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,950 | $31.23 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-1021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cartographers and photogrammetrists make in the U.S.?
The median salary for cartographers and photogrammetrists in the U.S. is $81,390 a year, or $39.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $126,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cartographers and photogrammetrists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of cartographers and photogrammetrists in the U.S. earn at least $126,950 a year. The top 25% earn $101,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for cartographers and photogrammetrists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,740 a year, and a quarter of cartographers and photogrammetrists earn $65,670 or less.
How many cartographers and photogrammetrists work in the U.S.?
About 14,260 cartographers and photogrammetrists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.