What is a gis technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Christopher Brown Ph.D.

A GIS technician is an individual who uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to collect, analyze, and manipulate geographic data in order to produce maps, charts, and reports. They work with various data sources such as satellite imagery, GPS data, and aerial photographs to create visual representations of geographically-linked information. GIS technicians collaborate with other professionals such as urban planners, surveyors, and environmental scientists to provide innovative solutions for a range of industries.

What general advice would you give to a gis technician?

Dr. Christopher Brown Ph.D.

Professor, New Mexico State University

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.

ScoreGIS TechnicianUS Average

Salary

4.6

Avg. Salary $58,307

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.1

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.1

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 31.59%

male 68.41%

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

Stress level

4.1

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

9.4

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a gis technician?

Pros

Opportunity to work on projects that have a tangible impact on the community
Wide range of potential work settings, including government agencies and private companies
Possibility for remote work and flexible scheduling
Ability to blend technical skills with creativity and problem solving
Opportunities for professional development and continuing education

Cons

Repetitive work and long hours at times
Can be challenging to stay up-to-date with constantly evolving technology
Requires strong communication skills to coordinate with various stakeholders
Can involve working with large amounts of data, which may require significant processing time
May require occasional fieldwork, which can be physically demanding

Key steps to become a gis technician

Explore gis technician education requirements

Most common gis technician degrees

Bachelor's

70.7 %

Associate

12.7 %

Master's

8.8 %

Start to develop specific gis technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	14.33%
Patient Care	9.28%
GPS	7.07%
Database Management	4.87%
Spatial Data	4.53%

Complete relevant gis technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New gis technicians 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 gis technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real gis technician resumes.

Research gis technician duties and responsibilities

Manage computer programming and maximize enhancements to GIS database.
Generate GIS database updates manually and manage automated unix-base system to apply records to client database.
Provide application development and support, infrastructure maintenance, and license management.
Update attribute information and reconcile as-built construction record drawings with corresponding GPS data.

Prepare your gis technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your gis technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a gis technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable gis technician resume templates

Build a professional gis technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your gis technician resume.

Apply for gis technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a gis technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do gis technicians rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Gis technician reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019

Pros

Creating maps, data sorting, spatial analysis, training, geo referencing, digitizing, creating shapefiles, map clipping/dissolving, map styling/decorating

Cons

programming