GIS jobs are varied and are found within nearly all industries and sectors from government and defense to business and education. (Check out Esri's Industries Gateway to learn about the many opportunities in GIS.)

Outlook is Promising

Not only are the career opportunities numerous, but the field is predicted to grow considerably.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics:  Employment of surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and surveying and mapping technicians is expected to grow 19 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Increasing demand for fast, accurate, and complete geographic information will be the main source of job growth.

US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration:   DOLETA's High Growth Job Training Initiative identified 14 sectors (one of which was Geospatial Technology) that fit within the following criteria:   

• They are projected to add substantial numbers of new jobs to the economy or affect the growth of other industries; or
• They are existing or emerging businesses being transformed by technology and innovation requiring new skills sets for workers.

Salaries: URISA conducts a periodic comprehensive Salary Survey for GIS Professionals. Check out the current publication and Executive Summary of the results, here.

Job Titles: URISA has published a 2014 version of its Model GIS Job Descriptions publication, a useful resource for career paths and skills required along the way.

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