How to Become a Cartographer & GIS Specialist in Missouri: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median cartographer salary in Missouri is $76,950 per year - 5% below 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.
Cartographer & GIS Specialist Salary in Missouri
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Missouri entry level (10th percentile) | $50,290 |
| Missouri 25th-75th percentile | $65,000 - $100,420 |
| Missouri median | $76,950 |
| Missouri top earners (90th percentile) | $116,430 |
| U.S. median | $81,390 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 170.
The Missouri Job Market: Cartographer & GIS Specialist
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Missouri | 170 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.06 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.65 |
| Mean annual wage in Missouri | $81,990 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.65, Missouri employs cartographers and photogrammetrists at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.
Requirements in Missouri
The education path is national - Bachelor’s in geomatics, geography/GIS, or surveying - while licensing runs through Missouri’s own boards: Photogrammetrist licensure in some states; GISP certification valued. Verify current requirements with the Missouri licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Cartographer & GIS Specialist.
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 Missouri?
The median annual wage for cartographers and photogrammetrists in Missouri is $76,950 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 5% below the national median of $81,390.
How do I become a cartographer in Missouri?
The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in geomatics, geography/GIS, or surveying - with licensing administered at the state level: Photogrammetrist licensure in some states; GISP certification valued. See the steps below.
How many cartographers and photogrammetrists work in Missouri?
BLS counts about 170 cartographers and photogrammetrists employed in Missouri (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Cartographer & GIS Specialist in Nearby States
- Cartographer & GIS Specialist in Michigan
- Cartographer & GIS Specialist in Minnesota
- Cartographer & GIS Specialist in Montana
- Cartographer & GIS Specialist in Nebraska
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), Missouri 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) |