How to Become a Cartographer & GIS Specialist in Iowa: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median cartographer salary in Iowa is $84,570 per year - 4% above the national median of $81,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: Bachelor’s in geomatics, geography/GIS, or surveying.
How to Become a Cartographer & GIS Specialist in Iowa
1. Build field data experience
Survey crew, drone mapping, or utility locating work supplies the spatial foundation.
2. Earn the bachelor’s degree
Geomatics, geography with GIS, or surveying.
3. Master the toolchain
ArcGIS/QGIS, photogrammetry suites, and LiDAR processing.
4. Start in GIS analysis or mapping production
Government agencies, utilities, and engineering firms are the major employers.
5. Advance
GIS manager, photogrammetrist (licensed in some states), or geospatial program lead.
Requirements in Iowa
The education path is national - Bachelor’s in geomatics, geography/GIS, or surveying. Photogrammetrist licensure in some states; GISP certification valued. Confirm current Iowa rules before you enroll, as details change. Do not assume a statewide occupational license exists.
Cartographer & GIS Specialist Salary in Iowa
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Iowa entry level (10th percentile) | $57,600 |
| Iowa 25th-75th percentile | $67,910 - $96,960 |
| Iowa median | $84,570 |
| Iowa top earners (90th percentile) | $105,300 |
| U.S. median | $81,390 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 90.
The Iowa Job Market: Cartographer & GIS Specialist
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Iowa | 90 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.06 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.62 |
| Mean annual wage in Iowa | $83,290 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.62, Iowa employs cartographers and photogrammetrists at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $53,740 |
| 25th | $65,670 |
| 50th (median) | $81,390 |
| 75th | $101,960 |
| 90th | $126,950 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 13,400 |
| 2034 projected | 14,300 |
| Percent change | +6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a cartographer make in Iowa?
The median annual wage for cartographers and photogrammetrists in Iowa is $84,570 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 4% above the national median of $81,390.
How to become a cartographer in Iowa?
The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in geomatics, geography/GIS, or surveying. Photogrammetrist licensure in some states; GISP certification valued. Confirm current Iowa rules; this occupation is not licensed in every state. See the steps on this page.
How many cartographers and photogrammetrists work in Iowa?
BLS counts about 90 cartographers and photogrammetrists employed in Iowa (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Cartographer & GIS Specialist in Nearby States
- Cartographer & GIS Specialist in Illinois
- Cartographer & GIS Specialist in Indiana
- Cartographer & GIS Specialist in Kentucky
- Cartographer & GIS Specialist in Louisiana
Related
- How to Become a Cartographer & GIS Specialist (national guide)
- All Trade Careers That Require a 4-Year Degree
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Cartographers and Photogrammetrists (SOC 17-1021), Iowa and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |