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About The Career
Cartographers and GIS specialists collect spatial data, design maps, and build digital mapping systems for government (Survey of India), urban planning, disaster management, and private mapping firms. Today cartography heavily uses GIS (Geographic Information Systems), remote sensing and digital mapping tools. Training is practical (field surveys, software like ArcGIS/QGIS) and finds work in planning, telecom, surveying and mapping companies.
Cartography (Maps & GIS)
Persona (Who suits this career best?)
Minimum Required Qualification
- Comfortable with maps, visual layouts and data
- Likes computers, spatial thinking and fieldwork
- Detail-focused and good at combining visuals with data analysis
- Entry: B.Sc (Geography/Geoinformatics) or B.Tech (Geomatics)/Diploma in Cartography & GIS. Short certificate courses exist for technicians. Survey of India runs practical mapping/GIS courses as well.
Stream of Study
Entry Pathways
- Science (Geography / Physics / Maths) or engineering (Geomatics)
- 10+2 → B.Sc Geography / B.Tech Geoinformatics → specialised M.Sc/M.Tech or diploma in GIS/Cartography → internships with Survey of India, mapping firms, municipal planning departments or private GIS consultancies. Survey of India and technical institutes run short practical courses for skill building.
Average Starting Salary
- Entry-level cartographers or GIS technicians typically earn ₹15,000 – ₹40,000 / month depending on skill level and employer; with GIS proficiency and experience, monthly pay rises substantially (and specialised GIS analysts command higher salaries).