Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
Research, study, and prepare maps and other spatial data in digital or graphic form for one or more purposes, such as legal, social, political, educational, and design purposes. May work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). May design and evaluate algorithms, data structures, and user interfaces for GIS and mapping systems. May collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information provided by geodetic surveys, aerial photographs, and satellite data.
14,260 people do this job in the US. $81,390 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 98%
- 0%
- 2%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 11%. Today's estimate: 20%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 14 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compile data required for map preparation, including aerial photographs, survey notes, records, reports, and original maps.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 10% | 3.3 h50 min to 6.7 h | 32%Half by Jan 2027 | |
| Delineate aerial photographic detail, such as control points, hydrography, topography, and cultural features, using precision stereoplotting apparatus or drafting instruments.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 10% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | 9%Half by Jul 2027 | |
| Prepare and alter trace maps, charts, tables, detailed drawings, and three-dimensional optical models of terrain using stereoscopic plotting and computer graphics equipment.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 10% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.1 work days | 9%Half by Aug 2027 | |
| Collect information about specific features of the Earth, using aerial photography and other digital remote sensing techniques.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 10% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.1 work days | 9%Half by Aug 2027 | |
| Examine and analyze data from ground surveys, reports, aerial photographs, and satellite images to prepare topographic maps, aerial-photograph mosaics, and related charts.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 10% | 6.7 h3.3 h to 2.5 work days | 10%Half by May 2027 | |
| Determine map content and layout, as well as production specifications such as scale, size, projection, and colors, and direct production to ensure that specifications are followed.Done daily by most who do it. | 10% | 5 h1.7 h to 1.3 work days | 19%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Revise existing maps and charts, making all necessary corrections and adjustments.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 9% | 3.3 h50 min to 1.3 work days | 25%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Study legal records to establish boundaries of local, national, and international properties.Done several times a day by most who do it. | 8% | 5 h1.7 h to 1.3 work days | 19%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Identify, scale, and orient geodetic points, elevations, and other planimetric or topographic features, applying standard mathematical formulas.Done daily by most who do it. | 7% | 3.3 h50 min to 1 work day | 28%Half by Feb 2027 | |
| Build and update digital databases.Done more than monthly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 4% | 3.3 h1.7 h to 2.1 work days | 28%Half by Feb 2027 | |
| Inspect final compositions to ensure completeness and accuracy.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 1.7 h25 min to 4.2 h | 57%Half by now | |
| Select aerial photographic and remote sensing techniques and plotting equipment needed to meet required standards of accuracy.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 4% | 3.3 h50 min to 6.7 h | 32%Half by Jan 2027 |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).