How To Become A Geographic Information Scientist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a geographic information scientist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Ronald Dorn

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a geographic information scientist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $35.61 an hour? That's $74,061 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 16% and produce 5,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a geographic information scientist?

Ronald Dorn

Associate Director, Arizona State University

You have a way of looking at the world that others only slightly understand. In other words, you think spatially-geographically. You think about cultural geography as more than just other people, but how people fit with their spaces. You think about how the physical geography processes interact with people in ways that others do not. So my general advice is to think broadly about what you are doing for the organization and how your unique perspective can benefit the people who you are working for and with. This means you will have to try to think like they do to explain how your views can benefit the overall mission of the organization.

ScoreGeographic Information ScientistUS Average

Salary

Avg. Salary $74,061

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

Growth rate 16%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 11.99%

Black or African American 6.24%

Hispanic or Latino 8.82%

Unknown 4.70%

White 67.73%

Gender

female 36.36%

male 63.64%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Key steps to become a geographic information scientist

Explore geographic information scientist education requirements

Most common geographic information scientist degrees

Bachelor's

81.8 %

Associate

18.2 %

Complete relevant geographic information scientist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New geographic information scientists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a geographic information scientist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real geographic information scientist resumes.

Research geographic information scientist duties and responsibilities

Manage and maintain mapping server and software including QGIS, ESRI, and SiteIntel software.
Perform daily administration of the system, including prioritizing/opening/closing/deleting tickets, creating useful SQL reports of the information, etc.
Develop written documentation and PowerPoint presentations to facilitate offshore user training on computer equipment and software.

Prepare your geographic information scientist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your geographic information scientist resume.

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