GIS Analyst job description: duties, skills and qualifications.

Core duties

16

O*NET task statements

O*NET occupation

Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians

O*NET-SOC 15-1299.02

Preparation

Job Zone 4 of 5

considerable preparation

Data Government data groups this job as Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians (O*NET-SOC 15-1299.02). O*NET 31.0 lists “GIS Analyst” as a job title for this occupation only (evidence: O*NET's Sample of Reported Titles (titles job holders report) and O*NET job-incumbent data). O*NET figures on this page are for that occupation. BLS publishes no wage or projection for it on its own: it is counted within the residual group Computer Occupations, All Other, whose figures are not shown. TryHired has no separate career page for this title yet.

1. Review existing or incoming data for currency, accuracy, usefulness, quality, or completeness of documentation. importance 4.3 of 5
2. Produce data layers, maps, tables, or reports, using spatial analysis procedures or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, equipment, or systems. importance 4.2 of 5
3. Maintain or modify existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases. importance 4.1 of 5
4. Select cartographic elements needed for effective presentation of information. importance 3.9 of 5
5. Interpret aerial or ortho photographs. importance 3.7 of 5
6. Create, analyze, report, convert, or transfer data, using specialized applications program software. importance 3.6 of 5
7. Design, program, or model Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications or procedures. importance 3.6 of 5
8. Perform geospatial data building, modeling, or analysis, using advanced spatial analysis, data manipulation, or cartography software. importance 3.5 of 5
9. Meet with clients to discuss topics such as technical specifications, customized solutions, or operational problems. importance 3.5 of 5
10. Design or prepare graphic representations of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data, using GIS hardware or software applications. importance 3.5 of 5
11. Provide technical expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to clients or users. importance 3.5 of 5
12. Design or coordinate the development of integrated Geographic Information Systems (GIS) spatial or non-spatial databases. importance 3.5 of 5
13. Confer with users to analyze, configure, or troubleshoot applications. importance 3.4 of 5
14. Collect, compile, or integrate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data, such as remote sensing or cartographic data for inclusion in map manuscripts. importance 3.4 of 5
15. Transfer or rescale information from original photographs onto maps or other photographs. importance 3.4 of 5
16. Perform integrated or computerized Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyses to address scientific problems. importance 3.3 of 5

Work activities O*NET rates most important here: Working with Computers, Getting Information, Processing Information, Analyzing Data or Information and Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events.

Also part of the job

Supplemental tasks O*NET lists for this occupation: less central than the core duties above, and not done in every job.

• Develop specialized computer software routines, internet-based Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases, or business applications to customize geographic information.
• Assist users in formulating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) requirements or understanding the implications of alternatives.
• Prepare training materials for, or make presentations to, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) users.
• Make recommendations regarding upgrades, considering implications of new or revised Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, equipment, or applications.
• Apply three-dimensional (3D) or four-dimensional (4D) technologies to geospatial data to allow for new or different analyses or applications.

Knowledge areas: Geography, Computers and Electronics, English Language, Engineering and Technology and Design.

Software O*NET lists for this occupation: Autodesk AutoCAD, ESRI ArcGIS software, Amazon Web Services AWS software, JavaScript, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Azure software. These are examples O*NET records for the job, not a list of tools every employer uses or a checklist of what you must know.

• Education and training: BLS publishes no entry-level education, experience or training category for this occupation on its own (it is counted within Computer Occupations, All Other).
• Preparation: O*NET places the job in Job Zone 4 of 5 (considerable preparation). A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.
• Licenses and certifications: not listed here. A license is a legal requirement set by a state; a certification is a credential from a private or professional body. Rules vary by state and employer, and a missing entry on this page does not mean none is required: check with your state's licensing board.

The most common answer among GIS analysts surveyed by O*NET is a bachelor's degree (27%).

Job title: GIS Analyst
[Company] · [City, State] · [Full-time or part-time] · [Pay range, where your state requires one]

About the role
[Company] is hiring a GIS Analyst to assist scientists or related professionals in building, maintaining, modifying, or using geographic information systems (GIS) databases.
[One sentence on your team and why this role matters.]

What you will do
- Review existing or incoming data for currency, accuracy, usefulness, quality, or completeness of documentation.
- Produce data layers, maps, tables, or reports, using spatial analysis procedures or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, equipment, or systems.
- Maintain or modify existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases.
- Select cartographic elements needed for effective presentation of information.
- Interpret aerial or ortho photographs.
- Create, analyze, report, convert, or transfer data, using specialized applications program software.
- Design, program, or model Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications or procedures.
- Perform geospatial data building, modeling, or analysis, using advanced spatial analysis, data manipulation, or cartography software.

What we are looking for
- [Education this role truly needs]
- Strength in reading comprehension, complex problem solving and critical thinking
- Working knowledge of Geography and Computers and Electronics
- [Software your team uses, e.g. Autodesk AutoCAD or ESRI ArcGIS software]
- [Any license or certification your state or company requires]

[Schedule, benefits and how to apply]

Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.

Not a real job posting. This template is TryHired's illustration built from government occupational data. It is not an opening at any employer, and no employer wrote it.

BLS publishes no wage and no employment projection for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians on its own. The occupation is counted within Computer Occupations, All Other, a residual group of unrelated jobs, so no figure from that group is shown here as GIS analyst pay.

• Read a real GIS analyst posting next to the core duties above. Duties it repeats, such as “Review existing or incoming data for currency, accuracy, usefulness…”, tell you what that employer weighs most; anything it adds is specific to that team.
• Tailor your resume to the posting, not to this page: describe only GIS analyst work you have actually done, with your own results.
• Prepare a story for each of the top-rated skills (reading comprehension and complex problem solving): a real situation, what you did and what changed.