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Job outlook for gis project managers in the United States
Are gis project manager jobs in demand?
Gis project manager job and salary trends over time
Gis project manager jobs over time
Gis project manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,335 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,340 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,376 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,306 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,236 | 0.00% |
Average gis project manager salary over time
Gis project manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $85,724 | $41.21 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $84,031 | $40.40 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $82,363 | $39.60 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $80,599 | $38.75 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $78,773 | $37.87 | +2.2% |
Gis project manager jobs by state
Most common states for gis project managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 590 | 85% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,632 | 24% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 183 | 24% |
| 4 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,737 | 23% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,844 | 22% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,200 | 22% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 284 | 21% |
| 8 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,194 | 20% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 188 | 20% |
| 10 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 785 | 19% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 363 | 19% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 193 | 18% |
| 13 | Vermont | 623,657 | 111 | 18% |
| 14 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,810 | 17% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 530 | 17% |
| 16 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 349 | 17% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 954 | 16% |
| 18 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 454 | 16% |
| 19 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 279 | 16% |
| 20 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 163 | 16% |
Most common cities for gis project managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lancaster | 1 | 2% | $93,455 |
| 2 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $82,832 |
| 3 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $88,067 |
| 4 | Richmond | 1 | 0% | $82,057 |
GIS Project Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of gis project manager experts
University of North Alabama
Coastal Carolina University
Valparaiso University
University of North Alabama
New Mexico State University
Kennesaw State University
Austin Community College District
Central Connecticut State University
University of Indianapolis
Colgate University
University of Puget Sound
DePaul University
Montclair State University
Michigan Technological University
What general advice would you give to a GIS Project Manager?
Professor Noel Healy: Students should embrace both flexibility and specialization. There will be opportunities to dive into practical experiences such as internships or field research, in areas that might be both within, and outside your perceived expertise.
What GIS Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Noel Healy: Geospatial technologies, like GIS, are rapidly evolving and are highly sought-after skillsets. Also, skills in data analysis, environmental modeling, programming skills in R are already increasingly important as industries and governments prioritize sustainability and data-driven decisions.
What will help GIS Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Professor Noel Healy: Focus on developing niche skills that are in high demand, such as GIS expertise, Coding in R, or environmental consulting. Additionally, consider roles in high-paying sectors like technology or government, which often value the diverse skill set that geographers bring.
What GIS Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Jian Chen: GIS skills, especially web GIS skills will become more important in the next 3-5 years...
What will help GIS Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Jian Chen: A data scientist is still one of the “sexy” jobs in the market. If you have a Geography degree, you can look for any data scientist position which has a geospatial component...
What general advice would you give to a GIS Project Manager?
Kathy Kozenski: At this time, thinking spatially is vital to solving problems; an employer is looking for someone who can aggregate disparate pieces of data and information in order to develop creative and unique solutions.
What GIS Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kathy Kozenski: In order to maximize salary potential within the GIS/Geospatial Technologies field(s), an employee (future employee) needs to ensure adequate education and experiences.
What will help GIS Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Kathy Kozenski: Students who are Geographically Literate and capable of utilizing GIS (geographic information sciences/systems) and Geospatial Technologies enhance their opportunities for employment, across all disciplines and employment fields.
Dr. Carolyn Dillian Ph.D., RPA
Professor of AnthropologyCoastal Carolina University
Geological And Earth Sciences/Geosciences
What GIS Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Carolyn Dillian Ph.D., RPA: Be flexible and willing to learn. Your college training will be a great background for the field, but you’ll develop and refine your skills through hands-on experience, so be sure to ask questions, seek advice, and find a mentor to help you get started in the field.
What will help GIS Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Carolyn Dillian Ph.D., RPA: Digital skills are increasingly important in the field, including 3D scanning and modeling, GIS, and the use of drones for recording and assessing structures, among other things. Students and early career professionals should try to take courses that provide an introduction to these technologies, as they are increasingly becoming requirements for employment.
Jon-Paul McCool
Associate Professor of Geography; Environmental Science Program CoordinatorValparaiso University
Natural Resources Conservation And Research
What GIS Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jon-Paul McCool: Utilize your time as an undergraduate student to set yourself apart. Do some kind of research project that can show your ability to do more than only the assigned work in classes. Utilize your summers to gain additional experience by working relevant jobs and internships. To all extents possible, do not limit yourself spatially. Be willing to travel to far flung locations, at least for a few years, to gain relevant experience after graduating rather than being tied to one specific location or region. You are far more employable with a couple years experience rather than straight out of school.
What will help GIS Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Jon-Paul McCool: It is important to remember that the only person who can push your career forward is you. You have to go to places and events to get exposure to opportunities and you have to be willing to potentially move and learn new things. You really have to want to move forward with your career and you have to take a vested interest in it by pursuing additional learning opportunities such as workshops, joining professional organizations and attending meetings, volunteering, etc. A degree alone only distinguishes you from those who didn’t graduate. How are you going to stand out compared to the thousands of others graduating across the country with the same major?
Michael Pretes
Professor and Chair of Geoscience, University of North AlabamaUniversity of North Alabama
Geography And Cartography
What general advice would you give to a GIS Project Manager?
Michael Pretes: A good knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is essential for many Geography jobs. Also gaining in importance are skills in Remote Sensing, LiDAR, Web GIS, database management, and Python programming. But perhaps most important of all is good communication skills—oral, written, and visual.
What GIS Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Michael Pretes: Do your homework before applying and interviewing for jobs, so that you are familiar with industry salary ranges and expectations. Then negotiate before accepting a position. If you are just starting out and are nervous about salary negotiations, consult your university's career center for advice and practice interviewing and negotiating scenarios. You should also consider your work-life balance and whether salary or work scheduling and conditions are more important.
What will help GIS Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Michael Pretes: Geography and Geographic Information Science (GIS) are two of the most employable degrees out there and they offer the greatest variety of career opportunities. In addition to working as a GIS Technician or GIS Analyst, in which you would be creating maps and databases for many kinds of employers, some Geography and GIS graduates find work as airline pilots, law enforcement officers, in the diplomatic service or military, as historical preservation experts, as urban and community planners, land developers, in business location analysis and marketing, in the travel and hospitality industry, in agriculture, in natural resource management, and in business and law, among other fields. Many Geography and GIS graduates find jobs that involve working outdoors. My advice is to think about what kind of work you like to do, and where you want to live. Many jobs in Geography and GIS involve remote work, and some involve extensive travel. You can really choose your lifestyle and career with a Geography or GIS degree.
Neil Opfer
Assoc. Professor - UNLV Civil & Environmental Engineering & Construction DepartmentWhat GIS Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Neil Opfer: First off, know what competitive salaries are in your area of the country for the type of job you want as you never have to recover from a good start. Some companies, for instance, will offer salaries that are simply not competitive. As an example, a few years ago, we had one CM graduate starting at $70K per year at one firm (heavy-highway contractor) whereas another grad had been offered $42K per year for a commercial flooring contractor. That $42K was simply not competitive with the market whether that employer offering that salary knew it or not. Also, compare offers versus area living costs. Use cost-of-living calculators such as at bankrate.com If you, using this bankrate.com tool, were offered one job in Las Vegas NV at $80,000 per year versus another job opportunity in Los Angeles CA, you would need $122,000 per year as a comparable salary. Remember to measure yourself as to earning that salary on a regular basis. Don't take jobs where a bonus is promised to make up for a bad salary. Example here is taking a Superintendent Job where your Job ended up profitable but other jobs run by others overall didn't so taking that lower salary and not getting that bonus didn't work out so well. Again, benchmark yourself against what others in the industry in that same area are actually getting paid. If you truly feel you deserve a raise where you're at but can't get it you may need to change jobs to get to a higher salary scale. But that firm offering above-market salaries may be doing so because of internal problems (bad bosses, poor working conditions, insane hours, insane understaffing, etc.) so look before you leap. It's a given that to be successful as a working professional in construction, one cannot just work a 40-hour week. But you shouldn't be working 7-10s or more on a regular basis either. Again, through networking you perhaps can find out who are the 'bad employers.'
Dr. Christopher Brown Ph.D.
ProfessorNew Mexico State University
Department of Geography
What general advice would you give to a GIS Project Manager?
Dr. Christopher Brown Ph.D.: Start researching early, really early, as in when are still in college. ID 3 jobs you would really want to have, unpack the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed, then make sure you acquires these KSAs in your work at University. Secure and internship or co-op in college, as these often lead to permanent jobs. Doing this let's prospective employers get to know you and your work ethic, and this makes you a preferred candidate. Learn all you can about the people who are interviewing you, make reference to key things you learn, and get to know them as much as you can in an interview. After the interview, send a thank you email, noting how much you enjoyed meeting them and how excited you are about the potential job.
What GIS Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Christopher Brown Ph.D.: In the geography and environmental studies field, solid GIS&T skills give you a big advantage in the game. Programming and DB skills take things to a new level. You also need solid soft skills, and solid references that can speak to your wortk ethis are a must.
What will help GIS Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Christopher Brown Ph.D.: Do your homework ahead of interviewing so you know what the market for the job is like. Sell the heck out of yourself in the interview, noting what a solid investment you will be to the company or agency. If an offer is happening and they offer you a salry, don't reply right away. Your hesitation may let them know you are looking for more. Ss you accept the offer, ask about upward mobility in the firm or agency.
Irish Horsey Ph.D.
Interim Chair of the Department of Construction Management and Assistant ProfessorKennesaw State University
Department of Construction Management
What skills stand out on GIS Project Manager resumes?
Irish Horsey Ph.D.: Construction Managers are problem solvers. Employers seek analytical, technical, and effective communication skills from potential employees for construction management positions. Whether building a skyscraper or single-family home, there are always groups of people performing numerous construction activities and tasks simultaneously on a construction site. Therefore, resumes that show time, cost, and, most importantly, safety management skills are most desired by employers.
What soft skills should all GIS Project Managers possess?
Irish Horsey Ph.D.: Leadership and communication are among the most essential skills of a construction manager. Construction managers are responsible for ensuring that projects are built safely on schedule, within budget, and to the quality outlined in the drawings and specifications. To fulfill these responsibilities, construction managers must lead multiple teams, including primary, secondary, and third party players, on a construction project through effective oral and written communications.
Sydney Pruitt
Department ChairAustin Community College District
GIS & GE Departments
What soft skills should all GIS Project Managers possess?
Sydney Pruitt: Self-starters and those who bring new ideas to the table have the most success. Being able to listen, process the information, and take appropriate action while remaining calm is crucial.
What hard/technical skills are most important for GIS Project Managers?
Sydney Pruitt: Field Engineers help develop conceptual, logical, and physical geospatial data models. It is crucial to develop skills to collect and assimilate data sources, from authoritative data sources such as clearinghouses; from data collection in the field using surveying equipment, mobile devices, GPS units, or drones; from data creation through heads-up digitizing, geocoding, or COGO. Professionals will also perform attribute and spatial queries, often using query languages such as SQL, Python, and Arcade. Knowledge in a project management framework that includes documenting the project goal, scope, work breakdown structure, statement of work, defined deliverables, project summary, and project archive is important.
What skills will help GIS Project Managers earn the most?
Sydney Pruitt: Professionals can find more success with familiarity with Computer-Aided Drafting, Geographic Information Systems, and Remote Sensing. Additionally, demonstrating professionalism, independent judgment, and complete and accurate surveys that adhere to project, organizational, and state standards.
Charles Button Ph.D.
Chairperson and ProfessorCentral Connecticut State University
Geography Department
What type of skills will young GIS Project Managers need?
Charles Button Ph.D.: Graduating geographers wishing to succeed in today's workforce need to have the following skills:
- Identify and classify physical and human features of the environment
- Observe, collect, and record geographic information from both primary and secondary sources
- Interpret maps, tables, graphs, photographs, and fieldwork data
- Organize and present information in a coherent manner
What experience really stands out on GIS Project Manager resumes?
Charles Button Ph.D.: A geographer's resume should be sure to highlight skills and accomplishments that will distinguish them from others. Some of the more important things to include on a resume are:
- Internships
- Certificates (e.g., GIS certificate)
- Volunteer activities related to the job field you are applying to
- Honors (e.g., awards received)
David Polly Ph.D.
Professor, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Research Associate, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago Adjunct Professor, Biology Adjunct Professor, AnthropologyUniversity of Indianapolis
Department of Biology
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on GIS Project Managers?
David Polly Ph.D.: It is difficult to say if the pandemic will have an enduring impact on graduates in geosciences. If it does, it is likely to accelerate changes in the job market that were already underway. Thirty years ago most graduates went into petroleum, coal, or other fossil fuel energy careers. The proportion of people going into those jobs has already been declining because of changes in hiring practices by energy companies and society changes in attitudes about fossil fuel. Because the pandemic has put a strong damper on travel, many of those companies have temporarily stopped hiring and have laid off workers. That trend may well continue. Meanwhile jobs in environmental geology, other sorts of mineral exploration, GIS, remediation, and research seem likely to continue to grow.
What type of skills will young GIS Project Managers need?
David Polly Ph.D.: Basic knowledge in earth sciences, ability to creatively analyze data, and adaptability. It is rare for a job for a graduate to not require data analysis, sometimes lots of it. Someone who can combine those skills with a firm foundation in earth sciences is likely to be very employable.
What experience really stands out on GIS Project Manager resumes?
David Polly Ph.D.: Evidence of a good foundation in earth science and analytical skills stands out. That might be through degrees, coursework, internships, or other job experience. A combination of both will serve job applicants well.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on GIS Project Managers?
Jessica K. Graybill: Coronavirus has brought both challenges and benefits to university students. Disruption of the in-person college experience has meant that students have needed to communicate their needs more clearly and readily to professors and deans, to become more responsible as campus - and global - citizens, and to be more flexible about what is possible for personal growth at this unprecedented moment. These are all lessons - personal and professional - that will assist graduates well as they enter workplaces also changed by the virus.
What type of skills will young GIS Project Managers need?
Jessica K. Graybill: Creativity and analytical skills are key, alongside the willingness to be familiar with a range of digital applications. For example, it will no longer be enough to just know SPSS or ArcGIS - students need to be familiar with navigating other digital and open-access platforms for data analysis. Entering the workforce in a post-pandemic world, Gen Z will need to be flexible about the times and places in which work occurs (in an office or from home), able to accommodate the health needs of themselves and others, and capable of engaging with - and perhaps even introducing - multiple kinds of digital programs and communications devices as they are rolled out and that will continue to connect us in new ways, and not always in person.
What experience really stands out on GIS Project Manager resumes?
Jessica K. Graybill: A student majoring in economics to go into finance is one in a million and doesn't stand out. It's the unusual background that distinguishes a good resume from a great resume. For example, adding mad spatial analytical skills or fluency in a lesser spoken language to the economics skills changes the equation and makes a graduate memorable. Interesting resumes emphasize unique personal and professional paths because this indicates a graduate's mix of in-depth interests and endeavors that include creativity, risk-taking, and flexibility.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on GIS Project Managers?
Jeffrey Tepper Ph.D.: "I don't foresee any long-term COVID impacts on the geology job market. Employment in the environmental consulting fields (e.g., groundwater, slope stability, clean-ups) will only strengthen as:
-Water resource management becomes more critical.
-The Biden administration returns us to more environmentally-aware policies.
-Population growth drives development.
-The reality of climate change necessitates more long-term planning for natural disasters.
I suspect employment in the oil and gas industry will shrink, and coal, of course, is dead. "
What type of skills will young GIS Project Managers need?
Jeffrey Tepper Ph.D.: The ability to write is always essential. Competence with data management tools/interpretation is also necessary (EXCEL at a minimum, and preferably additional mathematical/statistical packages, such as MATLAB or R). The same goes for GIS (ArcMap or QGIS).
What experience really stands out on GIS Project Manager resumes?
Jeffrey Tepper Ph.D.: A student who has completed an undergraduate thesis has demonstrated a degree of independence / self-motivation / ability to meet a project - all essential traits in 'the real world.' Another resume 'enhancers' would be internships, working for the geologic firm (summer or part-time during the school year), or being a lab assistant (demonstrating skills with analytical equipment or methods). Anything relevant to the geoscience field that shows initiative, reliability, and creativity. Most geology graduates will have taken a similar slate of courses, so 'standing out' requires more than just good grades.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the GIS Project Manager job market given the pandemic?
Winifred Curran Ph.D.: The pandemic has led to a tightening in the labor market that allows employers to be far demanding in terms of the skill sets and levels of experience they expect from potential employees. Workers are expected to do more with less and to have a broad array of skills. One thing the pandemic has highlighted is that everything is connected; we need to think holistically about issues, regardless of the economic sector. Luckily, geographers are well placed to do this.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for GIS Project Managers in the next 3-5 years?
Winifred Curran Ph.D.: GIS is only becoming more important across a variety of sectors, corporate, governmental, and nonprofit, and understanding how to use the technology to solve real world problems, without replicating the injustices that have often come with technological developments in key.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for GIS Project Managers in the next 5 years?
Winifred Curran Ph.D.: I see a bright future for geography graduates. Geographers literally study the world; they understand the connections between people and place, nature, and the built environment. And they acquire both critical thinking and technological skills that allow for a more complex understanding of how we make the world a better place.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the GIS Project Manager job market given the pandemic?
Amy Tuininga Ph.D.: Many positions are moving to remote work, resulting in reduced commuting, less dedicated office space per employee, slightly more flexible work schedules, more deliverable-based work, and broad cross-geographic teams working together from different home locations. We see other trends moving to more analytics and tech/electronic sector positions and fewer positions in the service and hospitality industries. This means that graduates may need to rethink their skill set and be ready to apply it to different sectors than they had initially anticipated. For Sustainability, this means more focus on data analysis and reporting in areas such as climate change, emissions, energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste, supply chain, and food security.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for GIS Project Managers in the next 3-5 years?
Amy Tuininga Ph.D.: Efforts are moving most expeditiously toward developing renewable energy and energy storage, more efficient and more environmentally friendly types of renewable energy, human-interface technologies related to this, such as smart thermostats and smart meters, and developing access for all communities - energy justice and a Just Transition. The second is mapping using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - smart technology integrated with global positioning and drones.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for GIS Project Managers in the next 5 years?
Amy Tuininga Ph.D.: The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that jobs related to renewable energy - particularly solar energy and, to a slightly lesser extent, off-shore wind energy - would show the most significant increases in employment over the next decade. Some of these data, though, are based on the 2010 census. It will be interesting to see the new set of data coming out from the 2020 census. Regardless, the solar industry is increasing.
What experience really stands out on GIS Project Manager resumes?
Nathan Manser Ph.D.: Students working towards full-time employment in the mining industry need to pursue summer internships and co-ops to show that they can 1) be trained and 2) work within a technical team. Students who have a perspective on the mining industry's multidisciplinary nature will be more effective as entry-level employees.
What GIS Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nathan Manser Ph.D.: In geosciences, and particular mining engineering, students on a gap year should explore graduate certificate opportunities that expand their skill sets in lifecycle assessment, geographical information systems, geospatial engineering, field sampling techniques, or other marketable skills that complement their interests in the industry. Even the traditional MBA would be a good compliment for students looking to be involved with the management side of mining instead of operations.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for GIS Project Managers in the next 3-5 years?
Nathan Manser Ph.D.: Engineers must be up-to-date on the latest digital technologies and be involved with how these techs will revolutionize the mining industry. As society demands more socially responsible actions from mining companies, the advancing digital revolution will provide the tools needed to manage a zero-impact mining operation. Students that get on board with that now will have a significant advantage.
What type of skills will young GIS Project Managers need?
Candice Luebbering Ph.D.: Graduates entering the workforce need to have a strong understanding of the fundamentals of their field. These will consistently inform and guide their work while the specific technology and platforms they use may change from job-to-job, or task-to-task. Having a solid foundation in core concepts, combined with the adaptability to learn and become familiar with new tools and software, will greatly help graduates in the job market.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for GIS Project Managers to find work opportunities?
Candice Luebbering Ph.D.: Surveying and mapping technicians are needed throughout the country as government and businesses incorporate and implement more geospatial data and technology in their regular operations.
How do you envision technology impacting GIS Project Managers in the next 5 years?
Candice Luebbering Ph.D.: Geospatial technologies continue to evolve. Those working in the field will need to stay up to date with the latest trends, tools, and software available so they are prepared for new job opportunities, to collaborate with colleagues in the field, and to communicate the technological options and possibilities with employers, customers, or clients.