Cartographer
Research, design and publish maps on paper and online that people can use to find their way around.
Also known as: mapmaker
About the job
Salary
Source: National Careers Service
Weekly
£346
Entry level
£865
Experienced
Monthly
£1,500
Entry level
£3,750
Experienced
Yearly
£18,000
Entry level
£45,000
Experienced
4,500
people are currently employed
Low growth
100 more jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
You would make the maps that people use every day to get around and find where they’re going. You could research, design and publish maps on paper and online.
You could produce maps for anything from tourist maps for walking or a road atlas for driving to maps used in satellite navigation systems. You might create maps used by industry and the armed forces. Other maps could show political boundaries, climate zones or the geology of an area. You might also design globes or maritime charts.
You’d use geographical information systems (GIS) and digital mapping techniques to record geographical information about an area and analyse it. You’d then present it as a map using desktop publishing and specialist computer software.
You would:
Check that maps and charts are accurate and to scale
Edit maps, add and remove new roads, structures or landmarks
Collect and analyse data from remote sensors on satellites and planes
Work closely with surveyors and designers
Use geographical information systems (GIS) to model and analyse landscape features
Plot the heights and positions of geographical features from aerial photographs
Carry out surveys of the land, the sea and coastal areas
Design maps for different media, like digital or paper-based maps
With experience, you could also manage mapping projects and lead a team.
Hours
Environment
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- understanding
- analysing
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- researching
- observation
- designing
- creative
- written communication
- working with technology
Your skills are important
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Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Computing Science
Design and Manufacture
Environmental Science
Geography
Graphic Communication
Skills for Work: Creative Digital Media
You would need a degree (SCQF level 9/10) in a subject such as:
Geography
Geographical information systems (GIS)
Surveying and mapping science
Earth sciences.
Most undergraduate courses ask for at least four Highers at B or above (SCQF level 6). Some universities may require AABB (first sitting) for entry. You may be able to gain advanced entry to the second year of some degrees with relevant Advanced Highers (SCQF level 7), Higher National Certificate (SCQF level 7) or Higher National Diploma (SCQF level 8) qualifications.
Some universities offer an Integrated Masters (SCQF 11) which combine a degree and masters course over five years.
Some employers would also accept a Higher National Diploma (SCQF level 8) in a relevant subject such as surveying, although this is much less common.
This is a small profession and entry is very competitive so many people have postgraduate qualifications such as a Master of Science (MSc) (SCQF level 11) or a doctoral degree (SCQF level 12) in a relevant subject.
There are also opportunities within the Royal Air Force which trains its own Air Cartographers; these positions require qualifications at National 5 level (SCQF level 5) in English and Mathematics.
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