Writes software and web maps that store, analyze and display location data, for cities, utilities, environmental agencies and logistics firms. BLS does not publish separate figures for geographic information systems technologists and technicians; it counts them within geographic information systems technologist and technician (SOC 15-1299), whose median pay is $116,580 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 15-1299
- Computer and Mathematical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
GIS Developer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $116,580a year, or $56.05/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $56KTop 10% $188K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.1%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 27,000471,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025471.2K
- Projected 2035495.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 471.2K Projected 2035 495.3K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Geospatial Developer, GIS Software Engineer, Geospatial Software Engineer, GIS Programmer, Web GIS Developer.
Pay
How much do Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians make?
Every gis developer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$116,580
Middle half earn $79,370 to $157,500
- 10th
- $55,940
- 25th
- $79,370
- 75th
- $157,500
- 90th
- $188,470
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $55,940 |
| 25th | $79,370 |
| Median | $116,580 |
| 75th | $157,500 |
| 90th | $188,470 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $116,580
- Median hourly wage
- $56.05/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $122,230
- People employed
- 435,370
Versus all US occupations
At $116,580, Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians earn 129% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $65,600 a year.
Versus computer and mathematical occupations
The median is typical for the Computer and Mathematical group, where the middle occupation pays $116,580.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $188,470 or more while the bottom 10% earn $55,940, a gap of 3.4×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 82% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $156,590, and still leads at $142,483 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $156,590 | $142,483 | 17,200 |
| 2Maryland | $144,680 | $137,844 | 19,060 |
| 3Colorado | $139,580 | $135,446 | 11,800 |
| 4Virginia | $139,030 | $137,512 | 17,000 |
| 5Delaware | $137,470 | $137,734 | 860 |
| 6California | $134,440 | $121,423 | 80,150 |
| 7Washington | $128,940 | $120,490 | 14,360 |
| 8Connecticut | $127,720 | $123,270 | 3,100 |
| 9New Mexico | $127,090 | $137,824 | 1,650 |
| 10Hawaii | $120,100 | $109,230 | 2,080 |
Job outlook
Is GIS Developer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians | +5.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians to change 5.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 24,200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 27,000 openings are projected each year, 5.7% of the 471,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a GIS Developer
A bachelor's degree in geography, GIS, computer science or environmental science is typical, often combined with a GIS certificate from a university program. Programming in Python and JavaScript, SQL with spatial extensions, and an understanding of coordinate systems and map projections are the core skills.
The GIS Certification Institute awards the GISP credential to experienced professionals, and Esri offers technical certifications on its platform. Many developers start as GIS analysts or technicians and move into development by automating their own workflows. Contributions to open-source geospatial projects also help.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does a GIS Developer do?
GIS developers build the software behind maps and location analysis. They create web mapping applications that let a city show road closures, a utility track its pipes and poles, or an environmental agency monitor wetlands. They write scripts that automate spatial analysis, such as finding every property within a flood zone, and build data pipelines that bring in satellite imagery, GPS feeds and survey data.
Common tools include Esri's ArcGIS platform, open-source options such as QGIS and PostGIS, Python libraries for spatial data, and JavaScript mapping libraries. Developers work with GIS analysts, who define what questions need answering, and with database teams who manage large geospatial datasets.
Day-to-day tasks
- Build web mapping applications
- Write Python scripts to automate spatial analysis
- Design and maintain spatial databases
- Integrate GPS, imagery and sensor data feeds
- Develop APIs that serve geospatial data
- Convert data between coordinate systems and formats
- Work with analysts to turn questions into map tools
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
GIS developers work for local and state governments, utilities, environmental consultancies, engineering firms, logistics companies and technology firms. The work is desk-based and frequently remote or hybrid. Hours are regular. Some roles involve occasional field visits to understand how data is collected.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Active Listening3.5
- Writing3.4
- Speaking3.4
- Monitoring3.4
- Active Learning3.1
- Mathematics2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 |
| Active Listening | 3.5 |
| Writing | 3.4 |
| Speaking | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Programming2.9
- Quality Control Analysis2.9
- Systems Analysis2.9
- Systems Evaluation2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Programming | 2.9 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.9 |
| Systems Analysis | 2.9 |
| Systems Evaluation | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Application server software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Content workflow software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a GIS Developer?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code IRC) built on O*NET's Geographic Information Systems Technologist and Technician profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | GIS Developer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Conventional5.9
- Investigative5.4
- Realistic4.6
- Artistic2.3
- Social1.9
- Enterprising1.9
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to GIS Developer
O*NET related occupations
- Computer and Mathematical
Geographic Information Systems Technologist and Technician
$116,580median a year
Most earn $56K to $188K
+5.1%Bachelor's - Architecture and Engineering
- Computer and Mathematical
- Architecture and Engineering
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Architecture and Engineering
More computer and mathematical careers
Median annual pay, with geographic information systems technologists and technicians highlighted
- Software Developer$135,980
- Actuary$130,000
- Data Scientist$120,230
- Business Intelligence Analyst$120,230
- GIS Developer$116,580
- Database Administrator$104,620
- Web Designer$104,000
- Computer Programmer$100,390
- Web Developer$92,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $135,980 |
| Actuary | $130,000 |
| Data Scientist | $120,230 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | $120,230 |
| GIS Developer | $116,580 |
| Database Administrator | $104,620 |
| Web Designer | $104,000 |
| Computer Programmer | $100,390 |
| Web Developer | $92,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists GIS Developer appears on
Questions
GIS Developer: frequently asked questions
How much do Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for geographic information systems technologists and technicians. It counts them within geographic information systems technologist and technician, whose median pay is $116,580 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $79,370 and $157,500, and the top 10% earn $188,470 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a GIS Developer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation.
Is GIS Developer a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.1% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 27,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a GIS Developer do?
GIS developers build the software behind maps and location analysis. A typical task: build web mapping applications. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Application server software, Business intelligence and data analysis software.
Which states pay Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians are District of Columbia ($156,590), Maryland ($144,680), Colorado ($139,580) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a GIS Developer?
O*NET scores Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians highest on the Conventional, Investigative and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.