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CAREERS

This section contains help and guidance for careers advisors or anyone considering a career in a geospatial-related field.

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Discover a wide range of jobs in the geospatial sector, and browse academic or vocational pathways.

Female Surveyor

Geospatial jobs

As the use of GIS and other geospatial technologies expands, it offers opportunities for people with different work experiences and educational backgrounds.

 

According to the Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA), because geospatial technology use is so widespread, the geospatial market is growing by 35% annually, contributing £11 billion to the British economy each year. This sector supports more than 37,000 jobs in the UK.

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GIS is a green technology that is making a difference on our planet and to its people every day for key decisions about wildlife habitat, human health, renewable energy, climate change, water quality and availability, wilderness areas, and much more.

Learning how to use GIS gives you transferrable skills which you can apply to a wide variety of jobs within the geospatial sector, or any jobs which use location data. 


Have a look at the wide range of careers that GIS could help you achieve and choose your favourite!  

Careers 

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GIS Analyst

Solves problems by processing geospatial data, prepares maps, reports and 3D visualisations, and performs research for a wide variety of functions including improving public services, transportation, forestry, and efficient delivery of parcels. 

£30,000 - £60,000

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Drone Operator

Plans flights and pilots a UAV to capture aerial imagery or data from other types of sensors to complete surveys of an area or project, and processes the geospatial data to provide a map or 3D model 

£28,000 - £45,000

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Land Surveyor

Accurately measures, monitors, and maps the dimensions of the land, and the size and shape of man-made structures; measures sea beds prior to dredging, assess the extent of natural resources, and define legal boundaries.

£20,000 - £70,000

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Climate Scientist

Use aerial or satellite imagery, and other geospatial datasets, to understand the effects and extent of climate change, for example by measuring glacial retreat or mapping sea surface temperatures

£36,000 - £56,000

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Disease Control Specialist

Tracking disease outbreaks, understanding patterns in space and time, and predicting spread and initiating control measures using geospatial and demographic information

£40,000 - £85,000

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Games Designer

Blending creativity with advanced coding skills to create realistic, visually impressive and challenging video games

£30,000 - £65,000

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Urban Planner

Uses geospatial datasets to help design intelligent cities, communities, and individual buildings that are livable and sustainable, minimizing environmental impacts and the effects of climate change

£31,000 - £68,000

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Web Mapping Specialist

Uses geospatial and remote sensing data to create dynamic, usable, and effective webmaps for a variety of customers and functions

£32,000 - £65,000

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Map Designer

Creates and updates maps using effective cartographic techniques, creativity, and spatial awareness to communicate with the public, business, and government officials

£28,000 - £55,000

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App Developer

Creates a wide variety of smartphone apps involving geospatial data and advanced coding skills, which provide services based on the location of the user

£31,000 - £55,000

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Sports Analyst

Uncovers patterns of movement of athletes, their technique and efficiencies, communicating those to individual players and coach staffs

£28,000 - £49,000

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Human Rights Advocate

Uncovers and investigates abuses such as land appropriation and forced labour around the world through aerial and satellite imagery, communicating these to NGOs, governments, and media

£30,000 - £60,000

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Satellite Mission Planner

Plans, directs, and chart orbits, and optimise sensor payloads to ensure efficient, effective, and timely collection of remotely sensed data for public space agencies or private companies

£28,000 - £70,000

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Ecologist

Collect and manipulate location-based data, along with remote sensing, and knowledge of the environment to help restore the environment, rewild species, manage green spaces, and more

£34,000 - £55,000

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Archaeologist

Uses aerial imagery to locate buried sites, and understand their human and environmental contexts. Creates and maintains databases of finds, and uses geospatial tools to maintain and display sites of cultural significance

£27,000 - £50,000

What other jobs that use location-based data can you think of?

Career Quiz
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What jobs are right for me?

Are you a creatively minded person? Do you like to be working outside and getting stuck in? What job will best suit your personality and qualifications?

 

Take the quiz on Go Construct to find out what jobs you would be best suited for!

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Quiz

Being a Surveyor means you travel to different places, to conduct all manner of data-capture tasks, in all weathers, using high-end optical and digital technologies and platforms; no day is ever the same. 

Bruce Ford

Land Surveyor at MT Surveys Ltd

Bruce Ford

Become a surveyor

Open up a world of opportunity! 

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The Survey Association have created a walk-through guide to help you on a career path in the industry.

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There are a number of ways to get into surveying.
 

Why not find out how you can begin your exciting career today!

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Careers in GIS

Careers in GIS

Organisations across the globe are increasingly relying on location intelligence to make better decisions.

 

As a result, careers in GIS are in demand more than ever. Equipped with data visualisation and spatial analysis skills, GIS professionals qualify for occupations in countless fields.  

Hear from Industry Professionals 

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The Survey Association
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Get qualified! 

The Survey School is home to the TSA Surveying Course, which is designed for new entrants into the Geomatics industry, or those with experience but no formal training.
 
It is intended to broaden the student’s practical experience and to supplement the theoretical experience gained from their employer.
 
The Survey School offer a number of short courses too, ranging from 2-5 days, with discounts for CICES and TSA members.

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Find your new career

The Survey Association

Interested in a surveying career? Use this website to view current surveying vacancies

RICS Vacancies

Shape international standards across land, real estate, construction and infrastructure with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors

Earthworks Jobs

Mainly physical geography and geomorphology jobs across sectors, in the UK and abroad

Transport Planning Society

Vacancies in transport including planning, modelling and management, mainly in the UK

GIS Jobs

A variety of GIS jobs in different sectors, mostly in the UK

Geography Jobs

A wide range of geography-related vacancies in UK ranging from GIS, transport, regeneration and town-planning

Planning Jobs

Positions in town planning throughout the UK

AGI Early Career Network

Ran by Association for Geographic Information (AGI) members to support early career professionals

GNS Science

Recruiting highly qualified staff in geospatial disciplines from across the globe. Based in New Zealand.

Building People

Creating connections across the built environment. Search for organisations, events and opportunities or ask a question to someone in the industry.

GOV.uk

Find out more about becoming a Planning and Development surveyor, including salary, pathways, and current opportunities.

Geospatial Articles

The latest news and career advice from Geospatial Jobs, including '8 Important Steps To Landing Your Next Job' and 'Drones in Surveying'.

Save the Student

Graduate jobs collated from other job sites. Live graduate job search engine.

Research Job Finder

Jobs in various different aspects of research in the UK and abroad

Prospects

Helps students make the right career choice. Match your skills and personality to 400+ job profiles.

Career Opportunities

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Digital Twin Design Challenge

Reimagine a real-world location using Minecraft!


Digital twin technology is set to be the next powerful tool for future engineers, and this contest is your opportunity to use it in a fun and creative way.

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Your design could with USD $5,000!


Entries are open until 31 March 2022.

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Read the latest

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PATHWAYS

With so many ways to enter a career in the geospatial sector, it can be difficult to know where to start! 

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Explore the main pathways into the industry to help you figure our what's right for you. 

Geospatial UK is proud to be sponsored by:

Newcastle University
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School of GeoSciences,

University of Edinburgh

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