How to hire a photogrammetrist

How to hire a photogrammetrist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step photogrammetrist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a photogrammetrist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new photogrammetrist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your photogrammetrist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a photogrammetrist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a photogrammetrist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a photogrammetrist that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of photogrammetrists.

   Type of Photogrammetrist	Description	Hourly rate
   Photogrammetrist	Cartographers and photogrammetrists collect, measure, and interpret geographic information in order to create and update maps and charts for regional planning, education, emergency response, and other purposes.	$18-69
   Compiler	Compilers are skilled professionals who are responsible for compiling directories and census reports using data obtained from surveys or census. These compilers must assist survey crews in developing and producing maps and cartographic information using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for property owners and businesses... Show more	$12-54
   Cartographer	A cartographer is someone who makes charts and maps based on geodetic surveys and satellite images. This person usually works with the government or a construction company to create urban planning and infrastructure development plans... Show more	$20-43

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Remote Sensing
   • LiDAR
   • Photogrammetric
   • DEM
   • Extraction
   • GPS
   • Digital Data
   • Aerial Photographs
   • DOT
   • Intergraph
   • Data Collection
   • Accuracy Assessments
   • USGS
   • Aerial Surveys

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage various construction staking projects, as well as manage and oversee field work of various boundary, ALTA/ACSM surveys.
   • Educate junior compilers in 3D softcopy aerial data extraction.
   • Support GPS teams with collecting data require for aerial mapping.
   • Analyze and process LIDAR data of specific areas of survey land.
   • Create planimetric maps and DTMs from LiDAR data for bridge quality checks, roadway design, and drainage calculations.
   • Reconstruct 3D photogrammetric models for museum online/public display.

   More photogrammetrist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your photogrammetrist job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A photogrammetrist salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a photogrammetrist in Montana may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level photogrammetrist usually earns less than a senior-level photogrammetrist. Additionally, a photogrammetrist with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average photogrammetrist salary

   $75,830yearly

   $36.46 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level photogrammetrist salary

   $39,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 24, 2025

   Average photogrammetrist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$105,527	$51
   2	New Jersey	$95,219	$46
   3	Virginia	$89,766	$43
   4	Missouri	$84,329	$41
   5	Alabama	$73,678	$35
   6	North Carolina	$72,227	$35
   7	Colorado	$65,588	$32
   8	Florida	$59,776	$29

   Average photogrammetrist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Sanborn	$96,866	$46.57
   2	Country-Wide Insurance	$95,852	$46.08
   3	Infotech	$83,957	$40.36
   4	Optimal Geo	$82,834	$39.82
   5	Peraton	$80,665	$38.78	2
   6	Merrick & Co	$80,132	$38.52
   7	Integrity Management Services, Inc.	$77,292	$37.16
   8	Modern Technology Solutions	$73,660	$35.41
   9	Vencore	$69,206	$33.27
   10	ICES Education	$55,062	$26.47

4. Writing a photogrammetrist job description

   A photogrammetrist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a photogrammetrist job description:

   Photogrammetrist job description example

   Seeking a motivated PHOTOGRAMMETRIST to support product evaluations, quality studies, and new product initializations. The candidate should have a working understanding and practical application of modeling geometric components of the image collection path to fully assess the geolocation and mensuration accuracy of a system. Imaging systems could include electrical-optical, RADAR, LIDAR, OPIR, hyperspectral and/or multispectral on board space or airborne platforms. Familiarity with current GEOINT systems, products and development, as well as the exploitation and mensuration software packages will be needed to perform photogrammetric tasks. The candidate will work within an existing team to complete tasks as prioritized by government customers. Good communication and team work is necessary. A history of delivering results is critical to success.
   The specific sub-tasks and activities to be performed include, but are not limited to:
   
   * Geolocation and mensuration accuracy assessments, specifically quantifying error estimates
   * Modeling geometric collection path to trace the exact location of a point on the ground to the pixel location on an image
   * Performing baseline assessment of system performance to support sensor initialization
   * Responding to detected errors and artifacts by recommending possible causes and corrective actions
   
   Required Experience/Education:
   
   * Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
   * 8-10 years with BS/BA of Geolocation and mensuration assessment experience using standard exploitation software packages (i.e., SocetGXP, Remoteview)
   * Applied knowledge of sensor imaging systems, products, and exploitation processes
   * Strong written and oral communication skills, with emphasis on briefing to obtain decisions and solve technical issues and test plans/reports writing
   * Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team
   * Willingness to learn, solve problems and perform in a dynamic work environment
   * Track record of delivering results
   
   Preferred Skillset:
   
   * Understanding and application of Mensuration Service Program (MSP).
   * Knowledge of National System for Geospatial-Intelligence (NSG) tasking, collection, processing, exploitation and dissemination (TCPED) image chain
   * ASPRS membership or professional certificate
   
   Peraton drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted and highly differentiated national security solutions and technologies that keep people safe and secure. Peraton serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies across the intelligence, space, cyber, defense, civilian, health, and state and local markets. Every day, our employees do the can't be done, solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers.
   
   An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disability/Veteran.
   
   Colorado Salary Minimum: $66,300
   
   Colorado Salary Maximum: $160,800
   
   The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position, and is just one component of Peraton's total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Peraton provides a variety of benefits to employees.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right photogrammetrist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your photogrammetrist job on Zippia to find and recruit photogrammetrist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit photogrammetrists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new photogrammetrist

   Once you've decided on a perfect photogrammetrist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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