Life As a Mapping Technician
Mapping Technician Job Description Calculate mapmaking information from field notes, and draw and verify accuracy of topographical maps.
Life As a Mapping Technician
- Enter Global Positioning System (GPS) data, legal deeds, field notes, or land survey reports into geographic information system (GIS) workstations so that information can be transformed into graphic land descriptions, such as maps or drawings.
- Lay out and match aerial photographs in sequences in which they were taken and identify any areas missing from photographs.
- Research resources such as survey maps or legal descriptions to verify property lines or to obtain information needed for mapping.
- Identify and compile database information to create maps in response to requests.
- Research and combine existing property information to describe property boundaries in relation to adjacent properties, taking into account parcel splits, combinations, or land boundary adjustments.
- Monitor mapping work or the updating of maps to ensure accuracy, the inclusion of new or changed information, or compliance with rules and regulations.
What a Mapping Technician Should Know
These are the skills Mapping Technicians say are the most useful in their careers:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Types of Mapping Technicians
- Topographical Drafter
- Photogrammetric Technician
- Geospatial Analyst
- Technical Illustrations Map Inker
- Mapping Supervisor
Job Opportunities for Mapping Technicians
There were about 60,200 jobs for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in 2016 (in the United States).
New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.6% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 6,400 new jobs for Mapping Technicians by 2026. The BLS estimates 7,200 yearly job openings in this field per year.
The states with the most job growth for Surveying and Mapping Technicians are Texas, Florida, and North Carolina.
Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Vermont, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Mapping Technician
The typical yearly salary for Surveying and Mapping Technicians is somewhere between $27,360 and $74,110. A Mapping Technician median salary is $44,380.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
|
California |
$69,910 |
|
Alaska |
$59,850 |
|
Massachusetts |
$59,320 |
|
Connecticut |
$58,360 |
|
Illinois |
$55,410 |
|
Minnesota |
$55,170 |
|
Oregon |
$54,570 |
|
Rhode Island |
$53,980 |
|
Arizona |
$53,730 |
|
New York |
$52,470 |
|
Colorado |
$52,360 |
|
Vermont |
$51,840 |
|
Nevada |
$51,400 |
|
North Dakota |
$51,200 |
|
Washington |
$51,100 |
|
Utah |
$51,090 |
|
Maryland |
$49,820 |
|
New Jersey |
$49,800 |
|
Montana |
$49,120 |
|
Iowa |
$48,590 |
|
New Hampshire |
$48,300 |
|
Hawaii |
$48,300 |
|
Wyoming |
$47,870 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$47,600 |
|
Virginia |
$47,570 |
|
New Mexico |
$47,440 |
|
Tennessee |
$46,020 |
|
Oklahoma |
$45,870 |
|
Nebraska |
$45,530 |
|
Idaho |
$45,090 |
|
Louisiana |
$44,540 |
|
Ohio |
$44,280 |
|
North Carolina |
$43,800 |
|
Maine |
$43,640 |
|
Wisconsin |
$43,500 |
|
Kansas |
$43,350 |
|
Mississippi |
$43,030 |
|
Arkansas |
$43,000 |
|
Alabama |
$42,850 |
|
West Virginia |
$42,750 |
|
Texas |
$42,740 |
|
Missouri |
$42,560 |
|
Georgia |
$42,180 |
|
Delaware |
$42,010 |
|
Indiana |
$41,030 |
|
Florida |
$40,900 |
|
South Dakota |
$39,180 |
|
Kentucky |
$38,960 |
|
South Carolina |
$38,250 |
|
Michigan |
$38,070 |
What Tools do Mapping Technicians Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Mapping Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- ESRI ArcView 3D Analyst
- Microsoft Excel
- Autodesk Land Desktop
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- Structured query language SQL
- Bentley MicroStation
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Access
Becoming a Mapping Technician
Are there Mapping Technician education requirements?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Mapping Technicians Work?
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming Mapping Technicians might also be interested in the following careers:
- Geodetic Surveyors
Are you already one of the many Mapping Technicians in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
- Radio Operators
References
Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons
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