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GIS Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a GIS Manager make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a GIS Manager in the United States is $123,228 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $59.

However, a GIS Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $136,334
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $108,344 to $130,088
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $94,793
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence GIS Manager Salaries

A GIS Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects GIS Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a GIS Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • GIS Analyst II (2-4 years): $76,988
  • GIS Analyst III (4-7 years): $90,519
  • GIS Analyst IV (7+ years): $116,334
  • GIS Analyst V (7-10 years): $132,708
  • GIS Manager (10+ years): $123,228
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
GIS Analyst II2-4 years$76,988
GIS Analyst III4-7 years$90,519
GIS Analyst IV7+ years$116,334
GIS Analyst V7-10 years$132,708
GIS Manager10+ years$123,228
View as Graph

How Do GIS Manager Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract GIS Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $136,438.
  • California: $135,920.
  • Massachusetts: $134,109.

Top Paying Cities for GIS Managers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $155,427
  • San Francisco: $153,726
  • Oakland: $150,486

What Skills Can Increase a GIS Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 9.84% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Data Collection (Mentioned in 2% Job Postings): Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on targeted variables in an established system, which then enables one to answer relevant questions and evaluate outcomes. Data collection is a component of research in all fields of study including physical and social sciences, humanities, and business. While methods vary by discipline, the emphasis on ensuring accurate and honest collection remains the same. The goal for all data collection is to capture quality evidence that allows analysis to lead to the formulation of convincing and credible answers to the questions that have been posed.
  • Geology (Mentioned in 1.27% Job Postings): Geology is the science that studies the Earth's physical structure and substances, the history of rocks, the processes that act on them and the most economic way to use the world's resources.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 9.84%
Data Collection 2%
Geology 1.27%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a GIS Manager's salary.

  • Agile: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Agile $131,854
7%
Flexibility $129,389
5%
Collaboration $128,157
4%
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GIS Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

GIS Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $137,712. While startup companies pay approximate $116,491.

GIS Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $116,491
Growth Stage 51~500 $123,201
Established 501~5000 $132,979
Enterprise 5000+ $137,712

GIS Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For GIS Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the MFG Nondurable and Media sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, GIS Manager positions in Pharmaceuticals or MFG Durable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view GIS Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a GIS Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
MFG Nondurable$147,874$71.020%
Media$141,712$68.015%
Energy & Utilities$138,015$66.012%
Business Services$135,551$65.010%
Telecom$134,319$65.09%

How Education impacts a GIS Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many GIS Manager enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an GIS Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $129,562 and $138,553.

GIS Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for GIS Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 8.5%
High School 8.5%
Associates 8.5%
Bachelors 44.8%
Masters 37.0%
Doctorate 1.2%
View as Graph

GIS Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a GIS Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$108,344
Average $123,228/year
$130,088
$9,029
Average $10,269/month
$10,841
$2,084
Average $2,370/week
$2,502
$52
Average $59/hour
$63
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $130,088 $10,841 $2,502 $63
Average $123,228 $10,269 $2,370 $59
25th Percentile $108,344 $9,029 $2,084 $52

Most common benefits for GIS Manager

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for GIS Manager

Here are companies hiring for GIS Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about GIS Manager

1. Where can a GIS Manager earn the most?

A GIS Manager's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a GIS Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a GIS Manager is $155,427.

2. What is the highest pay for GIS Manager?

The highest pay for GIS Manager is $136,334.

3. What is the lowest pay for GIS Manager?

The lowest pay for GIS Manager is $94,793.

4. What are the responsibilities of GIS Manager?

Manages, plans, assigns, and reviews analysts and developers' work on GIS projects. Oversees the production of reports, maps, applications, and visualizations for internal or external stakeholders. Ensures proper maintenance, documentation, and cleaning of GIS data. Develops methods to leverage GIS data for new applications. Typically requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 - 3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for GIS Manager?

The MFG Nondurable industry offers the highest average compensation for GIS Manager roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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