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The differences between gis technicians and geospatial technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a gis technician and a geospatial technician. Additionally, a gis technician has an average salary of $58,307, which is higher than the $42,643 average annual salary of a geospatial technician.
The top three skills for a gis technician include patients, patient care and GPS. The most important skills for a geospatial technician are python, visualization, and production tasks.
| GIS Technician | Geospatial Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $58,307 | $42,643 |
| Hourly rate | $28.03 | $20.50 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 8,922 | 7,845 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A GIS Technician is responsible for making maps and customizing geographic information systems applications. They also provide technical support to users or clients regarding the maintenance, development, or operation of geographic information systems databases.
Geospatial technicians majorly assist other geospatial analysts and project managers to build, manage, and make use of GIS databases to identify spatial relationships. Their job is to create customized maps and GIS applications or software. Furthermore, they are expected to review and interpret all GIS data, maps, and graphs. They are also expected to analyze applications of software, create data reports, and digital 3D models. Their job duties also involve updating satellite navigation systems and providing technical support to users.
Gis technicians and geospatial technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| GIS Technician | Geospatial Technician | |
| Average salary | $58,307 | $42,643 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $86,000 | Between $30,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | - |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | - |
| Best paying company | American Water | - |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | - |
There are a few differences between a gis technician and a geospatial technician in terms of educational background:
| GIS Technician | Geospatial Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Geography | Geography |
| Most common college | University of California, Berkeley | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between gis technicians' and geospatial technicians' demographics:
| GIS Technician | Geospatial Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6% | Male, 74.6% Female, 25.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |