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Begin your journey to becoming a Geographic Information System (GIS) manager today. This guide provides clear, actionable steps and tips, including what type of degree you should earn and what skills to focus on developing. You’ll also learn the average salary range for GIS managers and the job outlook for the next decade so that you can start planning for your future now.
What Is a GIS Manager?
A GIS manager oversees projects that use digital mapping technologies to store, analyze, and visualize data. The goal of a GIS project, for example, could be to solve environmental or logistical problems or to make predictions about natural disasters and climate change. GIS managers are expected to deliver results, so their work is focused on quality control and communicating progress with all stakeholders.
Because GIS technology is leveraged across many industries, GIS managers may be employed in a variety of fields from e-commerce transportation to hydrology. They lead teams of GIS technicians and analysts, cartographers, surveyors, and other professionals who use GIS technology. Most GIS managers work in offices, with the occasional field work, to lead or oversee surveys and other forms of data collection.
Alternate job titles sometimes used for GIS manager positions:
- Senior GIS analyst
- GIS project manager
- GIS coordinator
- GIS director
What Do GIS Managers Do?
GIS managers lead the development and execution of GIS projects. This often includes creating and managing budgets, ensuring projects follow set timelines, and verifying data quality and accuracy. The key responsibilities of a GIS manager may vary by industry, company, and project.
Each responsibility listed below is followed by an example from a case study on mapping lava flow during volcanic eruptions in Ireland to improve public safety:
- Create project goals and specific plans to accomplish them.
- Example: Employ a phase one aerial camera system to safely collect data on the path, area, and volume of lava flow.
- Identify milestones and deliverables that can be used to track progress.
- Example: Send lava flow data to local authorities within an hour of completing a survey.
- Coordinate with other departments and stakeholders.
- Example: Work with the National Land Survey of Iceland and the Icelandic Institute for Natural History to process data in their photogrammetry lab.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant laws, policies, and regulations.
- Example: Follow airspace regulations when operating the aerial camera system.
- Communicate progress and results with relevant parties.
- Example: Share lava flow data with government agencies and businesses that work in disaster cleanup and rebuilding.
GIS Manager Skills and Experience
Becoming a GIS manager requires a combination of soft skills, technical skills, and previous experience. Because this is a leadership role, most GIS managers have years of experience in GIS and in their specific industry. A survey of GIS manager positions on Indeed reveals employers seek candidates with 2–5 years’ leadership experience and 5–12 years’ GIS experience. It’s also helpful to have some understanding of the roles and responsibilities of other GIS-related occupations that you may be working with, including cartographers, urban planners, environmental scientists, and computer programmers.
Soft skills for aspiring GIS managers:
- critical thinking skills, such as deductive and inductive reasoning
- communication skills for presenting plans and data coherently and to coordinate with individuals and teams
- leadership skills to effectively manage groups and projects
- business savvy and understanding of trends in your industry
- time management skills, as you will often be working under strict deadlines
Technical skills for aspiring GIS managers:
- data collection and analytical skills
- geospatial analysis skills
- fluency in programming languages such as Python and SQL
- expertise in ArcGIS and/or QGIS software
- expertise in map creation software such as Manifold System, Leica Geosystems, or ERDAS IMAGINE
Become a GIS Manager in 7 Steps
Becoming a GIS manager starts with building a strong technical foundation in GIS skills and advancing from there. Use the steps below to propel you to a career as a GIS manager.
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in GIS, geography, computer science, or another related field. If the degree is not in GIS, make sure the program includes coursework that will teach you technical GIS skills.
- Practice using GIS software to gain hands-on experience. Even if you do not enroll in GIS coursework, ArcGIS and QGIS software are free for anyone to use. You can also take online introductory GIS courses through Coursera or Esri Academy.
- Gain experience in an entry-level GIS role like GIS technician or GIS analyst. This will help you begin building a portfolio that showcases your technical proficiency and problem-solving abilities.
- Apply for more advanced GIS roles once you’ve built a strong foundation. A job as a GIS specialist or senior GIS analyst can hone your technical skills and help you become an expert in your field.
- Look for opportunities to gain leadership experience such as mentoring a GIS technician or leading small team projects. This will help you stand out as a candidate when it’s time to apply for a managerial position.
- Pursue advanced education such as a master’s degree in GIS, a GIS Professional (GISP) certification, or a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification to focus on building leadership skills. These are not required for most GIS manager positions but could increase your chances of landing a job.
- Apply for GIS managerial roles, highlighting your technical foundation, management skills, and track record of successful projects.
Job Outlook for GIS Managers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the employment of computer and information systems managers, including GIS managers, will increase 17% from 2023 to 2033. This is much faster than the average of 7% projected growth across all occupations. Based on this projection, you can expect about 54,700 job openings for computer and information systems managers in the next decade.
However, since the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not parse out data for GIS managers specifically, these numbers are not a complete representation of the job outlook for this occupation. Examining the job outlook of geographers as well can provide future GIS managers with more insight into what is to come. The employment of geographers is predicted to grow 3% over the next decade with approximately 100 new job openings each year.
In the increasingly data-driven world, growing industries such as urban planning, environmental science, and logistics are relying more on spatial data. The employment of urban planners and environmental scientists is expected to grow 4%–7% in the next decade while the employment of logisticians is expected to grow by 19% with the continued rise of e-commerce. This is a major reason for the promising job outlook of aspiring GIS managers.
How Much Do GIS Managers Make?
According to Indeed, the base annual salary range for GIS managers is $59,065 to $127,895. However, the salary varies by location. Data from ZipRecruiter shows that on the high end, GIS managers in Washington State and District of Columbia earn over $111,000 per year on average while those in Arkansas, West Virginia, and Florida average $77,161 per year on the low end.
As with other occupations, experience level and education may also impact pay. More experienced GIS managers can expect to earn a base salary on the higher end of the range provided above. The data in the following table is from Payscale:
| Years of experience in relevant roles | Average annual compensation (including bonuses) |
|---|---|
| 1–4 | $59,935 |
| 5–9 | $77,596 |
| 10–19 | $85,379 |
| 20+ | $98,730 |
Lastly, Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that geographers who work in a federal government position make at least $6,000 more per year than those who work in the private sector.
Final Thoughts on Becoming a GIS Manager
GIS managers have a specific mix of qualifications, skills, and experience that allows them to effectively lead GIS projects and collaborate with various team members and stakeholders. If the information in this guide appeals to you, then you may enjoy a career as a GIS manager. It is never too early to start developing the skills and background needed for this position.