Career comparison
Cartographer vs. Geography Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Geography professors earn more at the median ($97,590 vs. $81,390), while cartographers usually get to work faster (Entry-level with a degree of training). Cartographers make maps and analyze geographic data. Geography professors teach how places, people and environments connect, and how to map them.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Cartographer | Geography Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $81,390 ($39.13/hr) | $97,590 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $53,740 – $126,950 | $52,550 – $165,460 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.4% (much faster than average) | +2.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 900 | 300 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | Entry-level with a degree | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | GISP | Ph.D. in geography |
| Work setting | Cartographers work in offices, often remotely, with some field work.. | Faculty work in classrooms, computer labs and field sites.. |
What each job does
Cartographer
- Collect geographic data
- Analyze imagery
- Build GIS layers
- Design maps
- Update maps
Geography Professor
- Teach geography courses
- Teach GIS and mapping
- Lead field courses
- Conduct research
- Mentor students
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, creative work, and high-pay. They sit in different fields, science, engineering & lab and education & childcare, but share transferable skills such as attention to detail and communication.
Which should you choose?
Choose cartographer if…
- I love maps
- I like data
- I have a design eye
Choose geography professor if…
- I love maps and places
- I enjoy GIS
- I like teaching
Still torn? Take the Cartographer fit quiz and the Geography Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, cartographer or geography professor?
Geography Professors earn more at the median: $97,590 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 geography professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects cartographers to grow +7.4% from 2025–35, compared with +2.7% for geography professors.