Career comparison
Cartographer vs. Geographer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Geographers earn more at the median ($102,040 vs. $81,390), while cartographers usually get to work faster (Entry-level with a degree of training). Cartographers make maps and analyze geographic data. Geographers study places, people and the environment using maps and spatial data.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Cartographer | Geographer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $81,390 ($39.13/hr) | $102,040 ($49.06/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $53,740 – $126,950 | $66,770 – $136,660 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.4% (much faster than average) | -2.1% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 900 | 100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | Entry-level with a degree | 4-year degree |
| Key credential | GISP | GISP |
| Work setting | Cartographers work in offices, often remotely, with some field work.. | Geographers work in offices with some fieldwork.. |
What each job does
Cartographer
- Collect geographic data
- Analyze imagery
- Build GIS layers
- Design maps
- Update maps
Geographer
- Collect spatial data
- Analyze patterns
- Make maps
- Use remote sensing
- Write reports
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, creative work, desk work, and high-pay. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose cartographer if…
- I love maps
- I like data
- I have a design eye
Choose geographer if…
- I love maps and places
- I like data
- I like technology
Still torn? Take the Cartographer fit quiz and the Geographer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, cartographer or geographer?
Geographers earn more at the median: $102,040 versus $81,390 for cartographers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Cartographers typically train faster (Entry-level with a degree) than geographers (4-year degree).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects cartographers to grow +7.4% from 2025–35, compared with -2.1% for geographers.