Redraw a changed utility pipe
In utility work, you redraw a changed pipe from construction paperwork, then update its GIS database record.
Career profile
GIS Technician
Geographic information system technicians keep digital maps and their linked data correct in GIS software.
Every map line rests on data. Checking that data, adjusting the line to match and making the result usable for someone else is the job.
A day in the life
Chase down a map gap
When lines do not meet, check engineering drawings and fix the layer if they show a mistake.
Design a map people can read
So readers can find what they need, you choose the map's symbols and labels and set its scale.
Help a coworker find data
Ask which records a coworker wants, help pull them up and describe bigger software issues to technical staff.
Quick facts
GIS study or relevant experience
United States · 2026
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Compare the pay range for the specific technician level and location.
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Check local technician openings and the experience each requires.
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
GIS study or relevant experienceCollege certificates and associate degrees teach mapping skills; some entry jobs accept relevant software experience or equivalent training.
Pay
Not displayedCompare the pay range for the specific technician level and location.
Outlook
Not displayedCheck local technician openings and the experience each requires.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You enjoy tracking down why two records disagree.
- You like organizing information as much as arranging a map.
- You can explain a computer task patiently to another person.
Things to weigh
- Office-centered jobs can mean long stretches sitting at a computer.
- Keeping existing records correct means returning to checks and updates, even when you would rather make something new.
Where AI may help
You can connect processing steps in tools such as ArcGIS ModelBuilder and rerun the workflow instead of repeating each operation by hand.
What people still lead
For teams using artificial intelligence to identify objects in images, someone still needs to review the results and assess their accuracy.
What we can’t predict yet
How much image tracing shifts into checking machine-produced features will depend on the data and how reliably the tools perform.
Pay in context
Earnings
Compare pay by location and technician level. These local ranges show concrete possibilities, not a national average.
County entry classification
Kern County, California, lists GIS Technician I at $21.78–$26.03 an hour. That is a classification range, not a guaranteed starting rate.
Water utility
Des Moines Water Works advertised $33.31–$41.07 an hour, or $69,284.80–$85,425.60 annually, in February 2026. It preferred two to three years of relevant experience.
Moving to a higher level
Kern County lists Technician II at $24.06–$28.76 an hour for more complex work. Its range overlaps Technician I. Differences between employers also reflect different locations and job requirements.
Getting started
Study GIS at a community college
- What the route involves
- Study data collection, database management, spatial analysis, and map design. Pasadena City College offers both a GIS certificate and an associate-degree route.
- What it can lead to
- You build the skills to create map layers and maintain GIS databases for technical work.
- What to check
- Pasadena requires grades of C or better in required certificate courses; the associate degree also has general education requirements.
Qualify through software experience
- What the route involves
- Build relevant ArcGIS experience. Kern County's Technician I requirements accept high school completion or equivalent plus one year using ArcGIS, with equivalent training and experience also considered.
- What it can lead to
- Meeting those requirements makes you eligible for consideration for Technician I; relevant college study can substitute for experience year for year.
- What to check
- The county's selection process can include a GIS knowledge exam. Eligibility does not guarantee hiring, and the cited 2026 recruitment has closed.
Entry requirements vary. You can prepare through college coursework or relevant experience; entry technicians work with supervision while learning the employer's maps and records.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Learn the local records
Get comfortable with the employer's map layers and documentation. Practice checking an edit against its source before calling it complete.
Make repeated work reusable
Build and test a workflow that processes a recurring dataset. Learn to check intermediate results so you can find which step went wrong.
Take on small projects
A Technician II role can add more complex mapping and small projects requiring independent judgment. In Kern County, advancement depends on merit and management approval.
Where you can work
City GIS support
You connect departmental map users with information technology staff, help solve access problems, and document data changes. Some positions include field checks of facilities.
- Office
- Field work
Water utility engineering
Maps sit alongside construction drawings and utility records. Some roles combine office editing with outdoor asset checks using Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment.
- Office
- Field work
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Sketch five familiar places on paper and give each an ID. Make a table linking each ID to a name and description. Change one place, update both records, and ask someone to find it. Notice whether keeping the map and table consistent feels satisfying.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Kern County. Geographic Information Systems Technician I/II — 2026 recruitment. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Kern County. Geographic Information Systems Technician I — class specification. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Kern County. Geographic Information Systems Technician II — class specification. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Des Moines Water Works. GIS Technician — February 2026 recruitment. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- City of Spokane. Geographic Information Systems Technician II — 2026 recruitment. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Pasadena City College. Geographic Information Systems and Technology — Associate in Science, Certificate of Achievement. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Esri. What is ModelBuilder?. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Esri. Deep learning in ArcGIS Pro. Accessed 2026-10-03.