Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
If you are a natural with maps, why not prepare to become a cartographer or photogrammetrist? Working with computers, surveys and photographs you will create digital and graphic maps.
Is your favorite part of road trips reading the map and charting your course? Then you would probably be right at home as a cartographer or photogrammetrist.
With a career in this field you will use information from surveys and photographs to do research on and analyze geographic information. Cartographers and photogrammetrists are responsible for measuring and mapping the earth’s surface. You will be an expert on latitude and longitude, elevation, population density, land-use, precipitation levels and so much more.
Working with geodetic surveys, remote sensing systems, aerial cameras, satellites and light-imaging detection and ranging (LIDAR) you will have the important job of creating digital and graphic maps that tell the physical and social stories of geographic areas.
With this job, most of your time will be spent in an office working on a computer. But, you will have the opportunity to visit sites to gather information for maps.
To land a great job in this industry you will need a bachelor’s degree in surveying, cartography, geography, forestry, engineering, computer science or physical science. The majority of people with this title have also received a postsecondary education. All U.S. states require cartographers and photogrammetrists to be licensed.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an increase in the number of cartographer and photogrammetrist jobs. The average yearly income of people in this profession is about $51,000 but some people make as much as $87,000.