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Best states for a gis specialist
Quoted expert
Candice Luebbering Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
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- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for gis specialists? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for gis specialist jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for gis specialists. We found that North Dakota is the best state in the nation for gis specialists, and people in Mahwah earn the most in the field.
In order to get you the best states for gis specialists, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a gis specialist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for gis specialists in 2025
1. North Dakota
Total gis specialist jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $76,626 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
2. New York
Total gis specialist jobs: 514 Average annual salary: $85,360 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
3. Virginia
Total gis specialist jobs: 374 Average annual salary: $79,907 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
4. Pennsylvania
Total gis specialist jobs: 435 Average annual salary: $83,691 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
5. District of Columbia
Total gis specialist jobs: 74 Average annual salary: $83,108 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
6. Nebraska
Total gis specialist jobs: 117 Average annual salary: $67,974 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
7. New Jersey
Total gis specialist jobs: 258 Average annual salary: $86,459 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
8. Florida
Total gis specialist jobs: 802 Average annual salary: $68,734 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
9. Massachusetts
Total gis specialist jobs: 336 Average annual salary: $75,118 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
10. Delaware
Total gis specialist jobs: 65 Average annual salary: $65,781 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
Gis specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a gis specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a gis specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $76,626 | $46,000 | 755,393 | 46 |
| 2 | New York | $85,360 | $56,000 | 19,849,399 | 514 |
| 3 | Virginia | $79,907 | $52,000 | 8,470,020 | 374 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $83,691 | $54,000 | 12,805,537 | 435 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $83,108 | $54,000 | 693,972 | 74 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $67,974 | $41,000 | 1,920,076 | 117 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $86,459 | $57,000 | 9,005,644 | 258 |
| 8 | Florida | $68,734 | $50,000 | 20,984,400 | 802 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $75,118 | $50,000 | 6,859,819 | 336 |
| 10 | Delaware | $65,781 | $43,000 | 961,939 | 65 |
| 11 | Michigan | $67,241 | $41,000 | 9,962,311 | 302 |
| 12 | Maine | $72,880 | $48,000 | 1,335,907 | 42 |
| 13 | Illinois | $70,571 | $43,000 | 12,802,023 | 402 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $72,938 | $48,000 | 3,588,184 | 108 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $72,467 | $48,000 | 1,059,639 | 35 |
| 16 | Maryland | $70,224 | $45,000 | 6,052,177 | 264 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $66,123 | $39,000 | 5,795,483 | 207 |
| 18 | Vermont | $65,038 | $42,000 | 623,657 | 31 |
| 19 | Oregon | $67,763 | $43,000 | 4,142,776 | 149 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $65,210 | $43,000 | 1,342,795 | 65 |
| 21 | Arizona | $62,159 | $40,000 | 7,016,270 | 277 |
| 22 | Georgia | $62,403 | $41,000 | 10,429,379 | 435 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $60,847 | $40,000 | 10,273,419 | 472 |
| 24 | Ohio | $64,432 | $40,000 | 11,658,609 | 331 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $66,264 | $39,000 | 5,576,606 | 224 |
| 26 | Texas | $62,708 | $41,000 | 28,304,596 | 766 |
| 27 | California | $72,873 | $47,000 | 39,536,653 | 913 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $60,103 | $38,000 | 1,815,857 | 60 |
| 29 | Missouri | $62,706 | $39,000 | 6,113,532 | 229 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $63,538 | $40,000 | 4,454,189 | 117 |
| 31 | Indiana | $61,452 | $38,000 | 6,666,818 | 244 |
| 32 | Iowa | $56,430 | $34,000 | 3,145,711 | 227 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $51,466 | $43,000 | 1,427,538 | 69 |
| 34 | Alabama | $58,597 | $39,000 | 4,874,747 | 172 |
| 35 | Alaska | $53,575 | $43,000 | 739,795 | 41 |
| 36 | Idaho | $58,290 | $37,000 | 1,716,943 | 67 |
| 37 | Washington | $63,650 | $41,000 | 7,405,743 | 235 |
| 38 | Nevada | $55,974 | $36,000 | 2,998,039 | 98 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $55,532 | $35,000 | 3,004,279 | 107 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $57,719 | $37,000 | 6,715,984 | 209 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $53,265 | $33,000 | 579,315 | 40 |
| 42 | Kansas | $54,133 | $34,000 | 2,913,123 | 134 |
| 43 | Montana | $54,829 | $35,000 | 1,050,493 | 50 |
| 44 | Colorado | $58,781 | $37,000 | 5,607,154 | 224 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $53,087 | $35,000 | 4,684,333 | 145 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $54,450 | $34,000 | 3,930,864 | 121 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $55,507 | $33,000 | 869,666 | 35 |
| 48 | Utah | $55,269 | $35,000 | 3,101,833 | 114 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $52,644 | $33,000 | 2,088,070 | 77 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $55,764 | $37,000 | 5,024,369 | 129 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $53,857 | $35,000 | 2,984,100 | 63 |
Highest paying states for gis specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. GIS Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $76,626 |
| 2 | New York | $85,360 |
| 3 | Virginia | $79,907 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $83,691 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $83,108 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $67,974 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $86,459 |
| 8 | Florida | $68,734 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $75,118 |
| 10 | Delaware | $65,781 |
| 11 | Michigan | $67,241 |
| 12 | Maine | $72,880 |
| 13 | Illinois | $70,571 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $72,938 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $72,467 |
| 16 | Maryland | $70,224 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $66,123 |
| 18 | Vermont | $65,038 |
| 19 | Oregon | $67,763 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $65,210 |
| 21 | Arizona | $62,159 |
| 22 | Georgia | $62,403 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $60,847 |
| 24 | Ohio | $64,432 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $66,264 |
| 26 | Texas | $62,708 |
| 27 | California | $72,873 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $60,103 |
| 29 | Missouri | $62,706 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $63,538 |
| 31 | Indiana | $61,452 |
| 32 | Iowa | $56,430 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $51,466 |
| 34 | Alabama | $58,597 |
| 35 | Alaska | $53,575 |
| 36 | Idaho | $58,290 |
| 37 | Washington | $63,650 |
| 38 | Nevada | $55,974 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $55,532 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $57,719 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $53,265 |
| 42 | Kansas | $54,133 |
| 43 | Montana | $54,829 |
| 44 | Colorado | $58,781 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $53,087 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $54,450 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $55,507 |
| 48 | Utah | $55,269 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $52,644 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $55,764 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $53,857 |
Expert opinions on the best states for gis specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for gis specialists to find work opportunities?
Candice Luebbering Ph.D.
Executive Director, GISCI
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.
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Updated January 8, 2025