How to hire a gis consultant

How to hire a gis consultant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step gis consultant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a gis consultant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new gis consultant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a gis consultant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect gis consultant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of gis consultants.

   Type of GIS Consultant	Description	Hourly rate
   GIS Consultant	A GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Consultant manages digital mapping data and performs analyses to answer geographical questions. They work for a wide range of industries, including technology, law enforcement, transportation, and construction.	$31-63
   Geographic Information Systems Geographer	A Geographic Information Systems Geographer collects, analyzes, and interprets geospatial data. They produce specialist mapping products.	$15-49
   Gis Internship	A GIS (Geographic Information Systems) intern is responsible for assisting the data analyst team on project management operations, data processing procedures, and advocacy program planning. GIS interns shadow all the processes of the organization, performing administrative and clerical duties under the supervision of a direct manager... Show more	$19-45

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Analysis
   • Desktop
   • Esri Arcgis
   • Database Design
   • Python
   • Spatial Data
   • Web Application
   • GPS
   • Data Management
   • JavaScript
   • Data Collection
   • SQL Server
   • CAD
   • Arcgis Server

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Construct, implement and manage state-wide seismic hazard and infrastructure mapping projects.
   • Install and configure of ArcServer and ArcSDE.
   • Load data layers into ArcSDE and grant access to end users.
   • Locate, photograph, and record GPS coordinates at each storm drain inlet and outfall.
   • Visualize the data using ArcMap 10.1 and compare GPS collect data to the data collect.
   • Work with IIS 6.0 and IIS 7.0 along with debugging and security features to web applications.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your gis consultant job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A gis consultant can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, gis consultants' average salary in louisiana is 40% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level gis consultants 50% less than senior-level gis consultants.
   • Certifications. A gis consultant with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a gis consultant's salary.

   Average gis consultant salary

   $94,013yearly

   $45.20 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level gis consultant salary

   $66,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

4. Writing a gis consultant job description

   A gis consultant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a gis consultant job description:

   Gis consultant job description example

   Infosys is seeking a GIS Developer - In this role you will interface with key stakeholders and apply your technical proficiency across different stages of the Software Development Life Cycle including Requirements Elicitation, Application Architecture definition and Design. You will play an important role in creating the high-level design artifacts. You will also deliver high quality code deliverables for a module, lead validation for all types of testing and support activities related to implementation, transition and warranty. You will be part of a learning culture, where teamwork and collaboration are encouraged, excellence is rewarded, and diversity is respected and valued.
   
   Candidate can work remotely from anywhere within the the US. This position will require relocation and or travel to project location
   
   Basic Qualification
   • Bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent required from an accredited institution. Will also consider three years of progressive experience in the specialty in lieu of every year of education.
   • At least 2 years of experience with Information Technology.
   • Experience in ArcGIS Enterprise setup and configuration,
   
   Preferred Qualifications
   • Understand ArcGIS Enterprise setup and configuration
   • Expert level experience in one of these programming languages: Esri Mobile SDK (iOS) - App Builder ArcPy, ArcGIS Web AppBuilder, ArcGIS JS API
   • Understand AGOL
   • Experience in configuring Esri Mobile application
   • Good RDBMS knowledge
   • Good communication
   • Understand Jenkins and DevOps
   • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
   • Ability to work in team in diverse/ multiple stakeholder environment
   • Experience and desire to work in a Global delivery environment
   
   The job entails sitting as well as working at a computer for extended periods of time. Should be able to communicate by telephone, email or face to face. Extensive travel may be required as per client and project needs.
   
   About Us
   
   Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in more than 50 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem.
   
   EOE/Minority/Female/Veteran/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin
   
   To learn more about Infosys and see our ideas in action please visit us at www.Infosys.com

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5. Post your job

   To find the right gis consultant for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with gis consultants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit gis consultants who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your gis consultant job on Zippia to find and recruit gis consultant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit gis consultants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   If your interviews with gis consultant applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new gis consultant

   Once you have selected a candidate for the gis consultant position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new gis consultant. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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