Geography and Cartography
What Geography and Cartography Graduates Do
Your career often begins in the field as a surveying and mapping technician. You’ll spend your days outdoors, using high-tech equipment like GPS, robotic total stations, and drones to collect precise data for construction projects, property boundaries, and environmental assessments. As you gain experience, you can move into an office-based role as a cartographer. Here, you'll use specialized software to transform raw data from surveys and satellite imagery into detailed digital maps, 3D models, and geographic analyses.
This field offers steady growth and a clear path for advancement. You might progress from a field technician to a lead cartographer or a project manager overseeing entire mapping operations. While you’ll start with a solid technician’s salary, your earnings grow significantly with experience, as specialists and managers command six-figure incomes. While AI tools will increasingly assist with data processing and initial design, the core work of hands-on field collection and the critical design decisions needed to create clear, accurate maps remains a fundamentally human skill. Your expertise in validating data and solving real-world spatial problems will be essential.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 6 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Geography and Cartography. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chief Of Party (Prof & Kin)
RAPIDS 53 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $44K – $51,940 – $65K | 4.5% |
|
Geodetic Computator
RAPIDS 217 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $44K – $51,940 – $65K | 4.5% |
|
Geospatial Specialist
RAPIDS 1062CB |
Competency | Competency | $63K – $78,380 – $100K | 6.4% |
|
Health Information Management Privacy And Security Officer
RAPIDS 2073CB |
Competency | Competency | $100K – $136,550 – $179K | 4.5% |
|
Photogrammetric Technician
RAPIDS 546 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $44K – $51,940 – $65K | 4.5% |
|
Surveyor Assistant Instrument
RAPIDS 551 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $44K – $51,940 – $65K | 4.5% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Best Schools for Geography and Cartography
15 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL |
66 61–68 |
$42,833/yr | 86.8x |
| 2 | Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN |
63 58–65 |
$50,411/yr | 52.1x |
| 3 | Portland Community College Portland, OR |
62 58–65 |
$38,714/yr | 75.8x |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater, WI |
59 55–62 |
$42,580/yr | 50.6x |
| 5 | Texas State University San Marcos, TX |
57 53–59 |
$44,270/yr | 37.7x |
| 6 | University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Johnstown, PA |
55 48–58 |
$40,962/yr | 37.9x |
| 7 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Shippensburg, PA |
55 47–59 |
$38,439/yr | 43.8x |
| 8 | Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SD |
54 48–56 |
$41,879/yr | 32.0x |
| 9 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ |
54 51–57 |
$41,627/yr | 33.5x |
| 10 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZ |
53 47–56 |
$41,627/yr | — |
| 11 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA |
51 45–54 |
$40,962/yr | 25.5x |
| 12 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WA |
51 47–53 |
$34,230/yr | 35.9x |
| 13 | DePaul University Chicago, IL |
50 44–52 |
$47,464/yr | 9.7x |
| 14 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI |
49 45–51 |
$36,895/yr | 24.2x |
| 15 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA |
43 36–46 |
$30,645/yr | 17.8x |
Highest Earning Geography and Cartography Programs
Schools where Geography and Cartography graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota State University-Mankato | $50,411/yr | 63 |
| DePaul University | $47,464/yr | 50 |
| Texas State University | $44,270/yr | 57 |
| Florida Atlantic University | $42,833/yr | 66 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | $42,580/yr | 59 |
| Mitchell Technical College | $41,879/yr | 54 |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion | $41,627/yr | 54 |
| Arizona State University Digital Immersion | $41,627/yr | 53 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | $40,962/yr | 55 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | $40,962/yr | 51 |
Best ROI for Geography and Cartography
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Geography and Cartography.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Atlantic University | 86.8x | $42,833/yr | 66 |
| Portland Community College | 75.8x | $38,714/yr | 62 |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato | 52.1x | $50,411/yr | 63 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 50.6x | $42,580/yr | 59 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | 43.8x | $38,439/yr | 55 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | 37.9x | $40,962/yr | 55 |
| Texas State University | 37.7x | $44,270/yr | 57 |
| Western Washington University | 35.9x | $34,230/yr | 51 |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion | 33.5x | $41,627/yr | 54 |
| Mitchell Technical College | 32.0x | $41,879/yr | 54 |
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Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Geography and Cartography degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.