GIS specialists in the US can see their salaries vary significantly based on their specific role, such as GIS Analyst or GIS Technician, and their years of experience. For instance, an entry-level GIS Analyst might earn around $45,760 annually, while those with 1-3 years of experience could make approximately $81,000 per year.
Typical GIS Professional Salaries by Experience and Role
Salaries for professionals working with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the United States typically reflect the complexity of their tasks and their professional experience. The data below illustrates potential earnings for various GIS roles across different experience levels.
| Role | Experience Level | Total Annual Salary | Base Salary | Additional Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIS Analyst | <1 year | $45,760 /yr | $45,760 | $0 |
| GIS Analyst | 1-3 years | $81,000 /yr | $78,000 | $3,000 |
| GIS Analyst | 4-6 years | $55,000 /yr | $55,000 | $0 |
| GIS Technician | 7-9 years | $45,000 /yr | $45,000 | $0 |
Note: The annual salary for the '<1 year' GIS Analyst role is converted from an hourly rate of $22/hr, assuming a standard 2080 working hours per year.
Understanding Salary Variations
Several factors contribute to the variation in GIS professional salaries:
- Experience Level: As demonstrated, professionals with more experience, especially in analyst roles, tend to command higher salaries. However, the specific responsibilities and industry can also play a significant role.
- Specific Role: While the question broadly refers to "GIS specialists," roles like "GIS Analyst" often involve more complex data analysis, map production, and project management, which can be reflected in higher compensation compared to a "GIS Technician" whose duties might be more focused on data collection, entry, and basic mapping.
- Additional Compensation: Some positions may offer additional compensation, such as bonuses, which can increase the total annual earnings.
