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Mapping technician vs cartographic drafter

The differences between mapping technicians and cartographic drafters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a cartographic drafter has an average salary of $56,708, which is higher than the $39,106 average annual salary of a mapping technician.

The top three skills for a mapping technician include GIS, data collection and spatial data. The most important skills for a cartographic drafter are autocad, , and .

Mapping technician vs cartographic drafter overview

Mapping TechnicianCartographic Drafter
Yearly salary$39,106$56,708
Hourly rate$18.80$27.26
Growth rate4%3%
Number of jobs28,5552,103
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4444
Years of experience--

Mapping technician vs cartographic drafter salary

Mapping technicians and cartographic drafters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Mapping TechnicianCartographic Drafter
Average salary$39,106$56,708
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $63,000Between $39,000 And $80,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CA-
Highest paying stateAlaska-
Best paying companyNV Energy-
Best paying industryUtilities-

Differences between mapping technician and cartographic drafter education

There are a few differences between a mapping technician and a cartographic drafter in terms of educational background:

Mapping TechnicianCartographic Drafter
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorGeographyGeography
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaNorthwestern University

Mapping technician vs cartographic drafter demographics

Here are the differences between mapping technicians' and cartographic drafters' demographics:

Mapping TechnicianCartographic Drafter
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 67.7% Female, 32.3%Male, 75.0% Female, 25.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 3.2% White, 74.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 2.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 4.2% White, 78.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage5%7%

Differences between mapping technician and cartographic drafter duties and responsibilities

Mapping technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage a team of 35 AutoCAD drafters and engineering technicians.
  • Generate GIS database updates manually and manage automated unix-base system to apply records to client database.
  • Utilize geographic mapping systems: GIS, GATRES, INTERNETIX, GEOCAT, USGS
  • Supervise the construction of projects design by BMI.
  • Collect imagery from mobile Lidar vehicle and produce high-quality 3D maps.
  • Gain proficiency with ESRI ArcGIS software including ArcMap, ArcGlobe, and ArcCatalog
  • Show more

Cartographic drafter example responsibilities.

  • Complete dimensional documentation, BOM, structural frame welding and assembly documentation.
  • Specify type sizes and styles of names, labels and other symbols appropriate for FEMA maps and other materials.

Mapping technician vs cartographic drafter skills

Common mapping technician skills
  • GIS, 21%
  • Data Collection, 14%
  • Spatial Data, 14%
  • GPS, 12%
  • Computer Programs, 4%
  • Survey Data, 4%
Common cartographic drafter skills
  • Autocad, 100%

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