Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have become an integral part of many industries and businesses. As technology advances and more data becomes available, the applications of GIS continue to grow. But is this spatial technology still in demand? Let’s take a closer look at the current state of the GIS job market.
What is GIS?
GIS is a technological system for capturing, managing, analyzing and displaying geographic data. At its most basic, GIS integrates hardware, software and data to help users visualize information related to location in a meaningful way.
GIS allows users to layer many different kinds of location-based information on top of basemaps. This could include roads, buildings, vegetation, pipelines, utility lines, parcels, elevation contours, satellite imagery and much more. Sophisticated analysis and modeling can then be applied to study spatial relationships, patterns and trends.
Some common GIS applications include:
- Mapping and cartography
- Infrastructure management
- Transportation planning
- Disaster response
- Business geographics and location intelligence
- Environmental monitoring
- Natural resource management
- Public health and epidemiology
- Crime mapping
- Archaeological studies
GIS has evolved from strictly a mapping and visualization tool into a multifaceted analytical framework. It enables users to not only see spatial data, but to identify relationships, make predictions and gain insights that support better decision making.
GIS Job Market Overview
The GIS job market remains robust, driven by technological advances as well as increased adoption across many industries. Here are some key factors contributing to ongoing demand for GIS skills:
- Technological improvements – GIS hardware, software, data storage and analytics capabilities continue advancing rapidly. This expands the potential applications and fuels adoption.
- Data proliferation – Vast amounts of geographic data are being collected from sensors, satellites, drones, crowdsourcing, mobile devices and more. GIS helps make sense of this avalanche of spatial data.
- Cloud computing – Cloud platforms make it easier and more affordable to implement GIS, while also enabling more complex distributed computing and collaboration.
- Integration – GIS is increasingly being integrated with other key technologies like AI, IoT, Big Data and automation. This intersection expands capabilities.
- Market expansion – Organizations of all types and sizes in virtually every industry are recognizing the value of location intelligence provided by GIS.
These trends are driving continued strong demand for qualified GIS professionals as well as growth in the overall GIS industry. Major GIS software vendors like Esri and Hexagon report double-digit increases in annual revenues.
GIS Job Growth Projections
All signs point to the GIS job market continuing to expand at a healthy pace. Here are some key statistics on projected growth:
- The US Bureau of Labor Statistics groups GIS under the broader occupation of Geospatial Information Scientists and Technologists, which it projects to grow 10% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than average.
- Career research site ZipRecruiter reports that entry level GIS job postings increased 30% annually from 2018 to 2021.
- GIS software leader Esri estimates the global geospatial industry is growing at an annual rate of 15% and will top $500 billion by 2023.
- MarketsAndMarkets research predicts the global GIS market alone will grow from $8.1 billion in 2018 to $14.5 billion by 2023, an annual growth rate of 12.4%.
- Geospatial media site Geoawesomeness.com highlights numerous reports predicting continued double-digit annual growth for geospatial jobs around 15-17% through at least 2026.
The consensus from labor economists and GIS industry analysts is strong ongoing growth in demand for GIS skills and expertise over the next 5-10 years.
GIS Jobs Currently in High Demand
Many GIS job roles are seeing particularly high demand right now. Some top jobs employers are urgently trying to fill include:
- GIS Analyst – Performs spatial analysis and mapping to provide location intelligence.
- GIS Developer – Builds and maintains GIS applications and interfaces.
- GIS Manager – Oversees GIS systems, data and staff for an organization.
- Remote Sensing Specialist – Processes and analyzes satellite, drone and aerial imagery.
- Geospatial Data Scientist – Applies data science techniques like machine learning to spatial data.
- GIS Cloud Architect – Implements and manages GIS systems on cloud platforms.
- Spatial Database Administrator – Organizes, integrates and manages geographic data.
Organizations across many industries have a growing appetite for these roles covering specialized technical skills as well as geospatial data management and strategic planning competencies.
Industries With Strong GIS Hiring
GIS is a versatile technology applied across virtually every economic sector. Some industries and public agencies with particularly robust demand for GIS talent currently include:
- Government – At federal, state and local levels for functions like land management, transportation, public works, emergency response, defense/intelligence, health services and urban planning.
- Natural Resources – Energy, mining, forestry, and agriculture companies leverage GIS for resource exploration, monitoring, permitting, and conservation.
- Utilities – Mapping and managing networks of transmission lines, pipelines, telecom lines, and other infrastructure.
- Transportation – Planning transportation networks, logistics, distribution and spatial data for autonomous vehicles.
- Urban Planning – City and regional planning agencies use GIS for Master Plan development, infrastructure management and more.
- Engineering and Construction – Design, asset management and project management for civil infrastructure, plants, buildings and real estate.
- Insurance – Assess risk exposure, optimize coverage areas, process claims and deliver location-based services.
Other active verticals include telecommunications, climate science, tourism, public health, education, defense, law enforcement, oil/gas, mining, marketing, weather monitoring and emergency response.
Higher Education GIS Programs
Colleges and universities are ramping up geospatial programs to help feed the demand for GIS skills. There are now over 230 academic institutions offering degrees specifically focused on geospatial technology and over 1,100 providing GIS coursework and training according to data from tech ed marketplace MatchCollege.
Degree types include GIS certificates, associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate programs. Some prominent colleges with renowned GIS programs include Penn State University, University of Redlands, University of Southern California, George Mason University, University of Denver and Johns Hopkins University.
Many other universities incorporate GIS into related degree tracks like geography, urban planning, environmental science, computer science and information systems. Coursework covers areas like cartography, spatial analysis, remote sensing, spatial databases, geospatial programming, 3D modeling, UAV mapping and geospatial statistics.
The proliferation of dedicated geospatial degree programs provides a pipeline of graduates formally trained in GIS looking to enter the job market each year. Many established professionals also pursue these degrees to advance their skills and career opportunities.
Salary Outlook for GIS Careers
Strong demand for GIS skills leads to competitive salaries for qualified professionals. Average earnings potential depends heavily on the specific job title, experience level, industry, and geographic region. Here are some salary ranges reported:
- Entry level GIS technician/analyst – $40,000 to $60,000
- Mid-career GIS analyst or specialist – $65,000 to $95,000
- Senior GIS manager or IT director – $90,000 to $140,000
- Geospatial data scientist or engineer – $75,000 to $120,000
According to the GIS Career Outlook report from GIS software firm Geo-Jobs.net, over 60% of geospatial professionals saw their salaries increase in 2021. About a third of respondents reported earning over $100,000 annually.
Location also impacts GIS salaries. Large metro areas like Washington DC, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles tend to pay the highest rates for geospatial talent. However, many rural areas are boosting GIS pay to attract professionals.
In summary, GIS expertise pays well for most roles and provides ample opportunity to advance into higher earning positions over the course of a career.
Job Satisfaction in GIS Careers
In addition to competitive compensation, GIS careers also tend to score very highly on job satisfaction. Some factors contributing to happiness and fulfillment among geospatial professionals include:
- Impactful work – GIS provides insights that help organizations solve problems and make better decisions.
- Career growth – Ongoing learning curve with ever-evolving technological Frontier.
- Creativity – Designing maps, apps and visualization tools.
- Problem solving – Analyzing spatial relationships and patterns requires critical thinking.
- Flexibility – Work on diverse projects across many domains and industries.
- Collaboration – Bringing together stakeholders and subject matter experts.
According to a survey by the GIS Certification Institute, 95% of certified GIS professionals feel their work is rewarding and 75% say their GIS skills are highly valued by employers.
The ability to continuously learn new technologies while applying expertise to impactful real-world problems makes a geospatial career professionally and personally fulfilling for many.
Should You Pursue a GIS Career?
If exploring spatial patterns, making maps and leveraging location-based insights to solve problems sounds appealing, then a GIS career may be a great path to pursue. Some key considerations are:
- Technical affinity – GIS relies heavily on information systems, data science and computer technology.
- Education – While not strictly required, a GIS or related degree is highly valued by employers.
- Spatial thinking – This involves visualizing relationships between objects in the real world.
- Analytical skills – GIS involves complex and critically thinking through spatial problems.
- Communication – Explaining analyses, insights and mapping outputs to users effectively.
- Passion to learn – The technology evolves rapidly so continuous learning is a must.
As long as the career path appeals to your own skills, interests and professional aspirations, GIS represents an exciting field with diverse opportunities for the foreseeable future.
Conclusion
In summary, GIS remains a highly sought-after capability by organizations in virtually every industry. The competitive salaries, ample job openings and robust growth projections make careers in the geospatial field very appealing. Technological advancements also make it an exciting space at the cutting edge of innovation.
Both employers and educators are working hard to develop the highly skilled GIS workforce required to meet accelerating demand. Students interested in the field have many options to gain credentials through certificate programs, associates, bachelors and masters degrees focused on geospatial technology and applications.
Current professionals with experience using GIS systems and analyzing spatial data also continue increasing their skills through both formal educational programs and vendor-specific training courses. This helps them take advantage of the new career opportunities emerging as technology evolves.
While GIS will continue facing some economic ups and downs, the overall trajectory points clearly upward. The unique insights into patterns, trends and relationships that geospatial analytics provides means demand will only grow. Both as a core capability and when integrated with leading-edge technologies like AI and IoT, GIS remains one of the most promising and in-demand career fields for the future.
