Career comparison
Cartographer vs. Surveying Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Cartographers earn more at the median ($81,390 vs. $54,240), while surveying technicians usually get to work faster (1–12 months of training). Cartographers make maps and analyze geographic data. Surveying technicians collect measurements in the field and help surveyors map land.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Cartographer | Surveying Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $81,390 ($39.13/hr) | $54,240 ($26.08/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $53,740 – $126,950 | $37,520 – $81,630 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.4% (much faster than average) | +5.8% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 900 | 6,900 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | Entry-level with a degree | 1–12 months |
| Key credential | GISP | NSPS Certified Survey Technician (CST) |
| Work setting | Cartographers work in offices, often remotely, with some field work.. | Technicians work outdoors in all terrain and weather, plus office time.. |
What each job does
Cartographer
- Collect geographic data
- Analyze imagery
- Build GIS layers
- Design maps
- Update maps
Surveying Technician
- Operate GPS and total stations
- Hold rods and prisms
- Set construction stakes
- Clear brush for sight lines
- Record field notes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve in-demand. 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 surveying technician if…
- I like working outdoors
- I enjoy technology
- I’m detail-oriented
Still torn? Take the Cartographer fit quiz and the Surveying Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, cartographer or surveying technician?
Cartographers earn more at the median: $81,390 versus $54,240 for surveying technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Surveying Technicians typically train faster (1–12 months) than cartographers (Entry-level with a degree).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects cartographers to grow +7.4% from 2025–35, compared with +5.8% for surveying technicians.