Salary report · US · 2026
GIS Analyst Salary
The average GIS analyst salary is $66,796 per year in the United States in 2026. Base pay runs from $51,000 at the 10th percentile to $87,000 at the 90th, with a median of $67,000. Bonuses add $584–$7,000, putting total pay between roughly $48,000 and $87,000.
Definition & distribution
What is the average gis analyst salary?
A GIS analyst earns an average base salary of $66,796 per year in the US as of 2026. The role turns spatial data into maps and analysis, and pay rises as analysts add programming and database skills on top of GIS tools.
This is a relatively tight distribution. The 10th percentile at $51,000 is 24% below the $67,000 median, while the 90th at $87,000 is 30% above it. The upper tail rewards analysts who add Python and database skills, moving toward GIS-developer work.
Known limitations. This record is built on 759 salary profiles (last updated May 2026). The median is reliable; the upper range often reflects analysts moving toward GIS-developer roles.
Pay components
How is gis analyst total pay structured?
Reported total compensation for GIS analysts has two components: base salary and a modest annual bonus.
| Component | Low | High | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $51,000 | $87,000 | Dense around the $67k median |
| Annual bonus | $584 | $7,000 | Up to ~8% of top-end base |
| Total pay | $48,000 | $87,000 | Base plus reported bonus |
Pay by experience
How does experience change a gis analyst salary?
GIS analyst pay rises steadily with experience as analysts add technical depth. Entry-level sits about 18% below the role average, and late-career reaches roughly 16% above.
- 01
Entry level (<1 year): ~18% below average
Map production and data processing, where most GIS analysts start.
- 02
Early to mid career: −6% to +6%
Pay crosses the role average as analysts add Python, SQL, and database skills.
- 03
Experienced & late career: +11% to +16%
The top of the range, usually held by analysts doing GIS-developer or geospatial-engineering work.
Skills
Which skills affect a gis analyst salary?
Reported skills split into three tiers. GIS tools are the baseline; programming and databases command a premium; and geospatial engineering opens the top of the range.
- 01
GIS tools — the baseline
ArcGIS and core GIS skills appear on nearly every profile. They define the role.
- 02
Programming & databases — the premium tier
Python, SQL, and data-management skills map to the upper end of the range.
- 03
Geospatial engineering — the promotion tier
Building geospatial applications is what moves analysts into higher-paid developer roles.
Geography
Where do gis analysts earn the most?
Reported profiles concentrate in metros with strong government, energy, and infrastructure demand.
| Metro | Market character | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | Energy & environment | Top of range; strong GIS demand |
| Richmond, VA | Government & utilities | Steady public-sector demand |
| Houston, TX | Energy & infrastructure | Good pay-to-cost ratio |
| Washington, DC | Government & defense | Cleared roles pay more |
| Chicago, IL | Utilities & planning | Diversified demand |
Check your pay
Where does your salary fall?
Enter your current base salary to see where it falls against the 2026 US distribution for GIS analysts. Nothing is stored or sent anywhere — the calculation runs entirely in your browser.
Raising your pay
How can gis analysts increase their salary?
Three mechanisms reliably move GIS analyst pay, in descending order of effect:
- 01
Add programming (Python, SQL)
Coding and database skills separate map producers from higher-paid GIS developers.
- 02
Move toward geospatial engineering
Building geospatial applications is the path into higher-paid developer roles.
- 03
Target energy or government employers
These sectors anchor the top of the GIS pay range.
FAQ
GIS Analyst salary: FAQ
About $87,000 per year at the 90th percentile of base pay. With bonuses of up to $7,000, top-end total compensation lands around $87,000 on file.
About $51,000 per year at the 10th percentile of base pay. Figures this low typically reflect entry-level map-production roles.
Most reliably by adding programming (Python, SQL), moving toward geospatial engineering, and targeting energy or government employers.
Sometimes, and they are modest. Reported annual bonuses range from about $584 to $7,000, bringing total pay to between roughly $48,000 and $87,000 per year.
Reliable at the median, built on 759 salary profiles reported to PayScale (updated May 2026). The upper range often reflects GIS-developer work.
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