Career comparison
Cartographer vs. Urban Planner
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Urban planners earn more at the median ($89,320 vs. $81,390), while cartographers usually get to work faster (Entry-level with a degree of training). Cartographers make maps and analyze geographic data. Urban planners plan how cities and towns grow, from housing and parks to roads and transit.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Cartographer | Urban Planner | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $81,390 ($39.13/hr) | $89,320 ($42.94/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $53,740 – $126,950 | $60,010 – $134,490 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.4% (much faster than average) | +3.9% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 900 | 3,200 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | Entry-level with a degree | 6 years (bachelor’s + master’s) |
| Key credential | GISP | AICP certification |
| Work setting | Cartographers work in offices, often remotely, with some field work.. | Planners work in government and consulting offices, with site visits and public meetings.. |
What each job does
Cartographer
- Collect geographic data
- Analyze imagery
- Build GIS layers
- Design maps
- Update maps
Urban Planner
- Analyze land use and demographic data
- Write comprehensive plans
- Draft and update zoning codes
- Review development proposals
- Lead public meetings
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, creative work, desk work, and high-pay. They sit in different fields, science, engineering & lab and community, social & government services, 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 urban planner if…
- I care about how cities work
- I like maps and data
- I enjoy public speaking
Still torn? Take the Cartographer fit quiz and the Urban Planner fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, cartographer or urban planner?
Urban Planners earn more at the median: $89,320 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 urban planners (6 years (bachelor’s + master’s)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects cartographers to grow +7.4% from 2025–35, compared with +3.9% for urban planners.