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Geospatial Mapping Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Consultant, Advisory (Atlanta)

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$65K - $95K/yr

The visuals used are formats tables, charts and graphs, diagrams, plots, geospatial maps, figures, and correlation matrices, which sometimes will be combined in a dashboard. * Interpreting client ...

Learning to work with large data sets for analysis of geospatial information, with manager direction and review What you'll do * Learn to support the production of map-based results demonstrating ...

Create high-quality maps, exhibits, dashboards, and spatial analyses for reports, permitting, and ... Bachelor's degree in GIS, Geography, Geospatial Science, Environmental Science, Data Analytics, or ...

Develop maps to identify Nordex transportation solutions and constraints for all our North American ... Bachelors or Masters of Science in Engineering, Cartography, Geospatial Science or related field(s)

Develop maps to identify Nordex transportation solutions and constraints for all our North American ... Bachelors or Masters of Science in Engineering, Cartography, Geospatial Science or related field(s)

Woolpert is an award-winning, global leader in architecture, engineering, and geospatial services ... Ability to interpret and analyze survey data, maps, and construction plans. * Good organizational ...

Construction Automation Team Lead

Chicago, IL · On-site

$97K - $128K/yr

GIS and geospatial technologies including ESRI ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise, GeoBIM, Indoors ... Reality capture technologies including terrestrial LiDAR, mobile mapping, UAV data collection ...

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Showing results 1-20

Geospatial Mapping information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$22.7K

$79.8K

$125.7K

How much do geospatial mapping jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for geospatial mapping in Chicago, IL is $79,830.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $56,100.00 and $82,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Geospatial Mapping vs GIS Technician?

AspectGeospatial MappingGIS Technician
CredentialsGIS certifications, cartography, GIS software skillsGIS certifications, cartography, GIS software skills
Work EnvironmentField data collection, mapping projects, GIS labsOffice-based, data management, map creation
Industry UsageEnvironmental, urban planning, transportationGovernment agencies, utilities, environmental firms

Both roles require GIS knowledge and similar certifications, often working in overlapping industries. Geospatial Mapping focuses on creating and analyzing spatial data, often involving fieldwork and cartography. GIS Technicians primarily manage GIS databases, produce maps, and support GIS projects in office settings. While their skills overlap, Geospatial Mapping emphasizes data collection and map creation, whereas GIS Technicians focus on data management and technical support.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in geospatial mapping, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in geospatial mapping often encounter challenges such as managing large datasets, ensuring data accuracy, and integrating different types of spatial data. These challenges can be addressed by staying current with the latest GIS software, adopting standardized data collection and validation processes, and collaborating closely with cross-disciplinary teams like urban planners or environmental scientists. Regular training and clear project communication also help ensure that mapping outputs meet the needs of stakeholders and maintain high quality.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Geospatial Mapping Specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Geospatial Mapping Specialist, you need strong analytical skills, proficiency in geography, cartography, and GIS, typically supported by a degree in geospatial science or a related field. Familiarity with GIS software (like ArcGIS or QGIS), remote sensing tools, and possibly certifications such as GISP are important. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication help professionals excel in analyzing spatial data and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. These skills are crucial for producing accurate maps and spatial analyses that support informed decision-making in fields ranging from urban planning to environmental management.

What is geospatial mapping?

Geospatial mapping is the process of collecting, analyzing, and visualizing data that is associated with specific locations on the Earth's surface. It involves using geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and other technologies to create maps and models that help in understanding patterns, relationships, and trends in spatial data. Geospatial mapping is widely used in industries such as urban planning, environmental science, transportation, and disaster management to make informed decisions based on the spatial distribution of resources and phenomena.

Is GIS a high demand job?

Geospatial mapping professionals, including GIS specialists, are in high demand across industries such as urban planning, environmental management, and transportation due to the increasing reliance on spatial data analysis. The job often requires proficiency with GIS software like ArcGIS or QGIS and relevant certifications, and employment opportunities are expected to grow steadily in the coming years.

Is geospatial analysis a good career?

Geospatial analysis is a viable career that involves using geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and spatial data to solve real-world problems. It offers opportunities in sectors like urban planning, environmental management, and defense, often requiring skills in GIS software and data analysis. The field is expected to grow as organizations increasingly rely on spatial data for decision-making.

What GIS jobs pay the most?

Senior GIS analyst, GIS manager, and geospatial data scientist roles tend to have the highest salaries in the field, often exceeding $80,000 annually. These positions typically require advanced skills in GIS software, programming, and data analysis, and may involve leadership or specialized technical expertise.

Will GIS be replaced by AI?

GIS (Geographic Information Systems) professionals use AI to enhance data analysis, automate tasks, and improve spatial modeling. While AI tools are increasingly integrated into GIS workflows, they complement rather than replace the core skills of GIS specialists, who also require knowledge of cartography, spatial analysis, and GIS software. Staying current with AI advancements and developing skills in data science can benefit GIS professionals in the evolving job market.
What job categories do people searching Geospatial Mapping jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Geospatial Mapping jobs in Chicago, IL are:
Infographic showing various Geospatial Mapping job openings in Chicago, IL as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $79,830 per year, or $38.4 per hour.
Junior Data Scientist

Junior Data Scientist

Cushman & Wakefield

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 24 days ago


Cushman & Wakefield rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 154 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

86th of 162 rated real estate companies


Job description

Job Title

Junior Data Scientist

Job Description Summary

This role sits at the intersection of real estate economics, urban analysis, and data science. The Junior Data Scientist will support the development and evolution of Cushman and Wakefield Quantitative Insight Group's (QIG) analytical capabilities by producing rigorous, insight-driven work on commercial real estate markets across the Americas. This position will report to the Head of Data Science and Geospatial Analytics. The ideal candidate is a practitioner who thinks first like an economist, real estate analyst, or quantitative urban planner, and who brings the technical skills to build and operate the data infrastructure their own work requires.
This is not primarily an engineering role, though the ideal candidate will possess data engineering knowledge, skills, and abilities. The Analyst will spend most of their time doing substantive analytical and research work: synthesizing complex datasets, identifying market patterns and anomalies, and producing outputs that inform Cushman & Wakefield's House View, including elements that are unique to QIG, and related analytical products for key clients. At the same time, the candidate should be comfortable constructing and maintaining data pipelines, working fluently in Python and/or R and SQL, and collaborating closely with Technology & Data Solutions (TDS) as a knowledgeable and credible partner.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Real Estate & Urban Economic Analysis (45%)

  • Conduct rigorous quantitative analysis on commercial real estate markets, synthesizing property, macroeconomic, and urban data to surface market trends, structural shifts, and investment-relevant insights.

  • Apply econometric and statistical methods (time series modeling, regression, spatial econometrics, or similar) to real estate and labor market questions in support of QIG research products.

  • Integrate geospatial data and methods into analytical workflows: working with Census geographies, parcel data, land use classifications, walkability or transit metrics, demographic overlays, and similar inputs to enrich market analysis.

  • Contribute to the development of novel datasets and indicators that advance QIG's analytical edge, including working closely with the Head of Data Science & Geospatial Analytics to specify and build integrated data products combining proprietary CRE data with public and third-party sources.

  • Support the QIG team on ad hoc analytical requests from Americas Research, the Global Think Tank, and senior stakeholders, producing clean, well-documented, and reproducible outputs.

Data Engineering & Pipeline Maintenance (35%)

  • Build andmaintainautomated data pipelines for ingesting, transforming, and storing CRE and macroeconomic datasets used in analytical modelsand reoccurring analysis.

  • Ensure data integrity and consistency across QIG inputs and outputs through validation, quality control procedures, and structured data interfaces.

  • Perform exploratory data analysis and profiling on raw and processed datasets tovalidatepipeline outputs andidentifyanomalies or inconsistencies.

  • Partner with PRI (Property Research & Intelligence), TDS (Technology & Data Solutions), and the GIS team to ensure governance of time series and geospatial data, particularly as geography-based competitive sets evolve.

  • Serve as a knowledgeable liaison to TDS: translating analytical requirements into engineering specifications, tracking the status of data requests in the TDS backlog, and validating outputs against analytical expectations.

Documentation, Integration & Infrastructure (20%)

  • Develop andmaintaininternal documentation covering data sources, model architecture, data flows, and diagnostic procedures, with attention to field-level lineage and traceability.

  • Serve as the team's subject matter expert on integration and processing of internal, third-party vendor, and public datasets (e.g., Census TIGER, IPUMS, LODES, NLCD, Overture Maps), and advise on cleaning, normalization, andappropriate analyticalapplications.

  • Monitor the evolution of third-party data products; assess their fit against QIG analytical requirements and produce intake specifications when new sources are approved for integration.

  • Support the adoption of emerging analytical technologies (including ML/AI methods and advanced data infrastructure patterns) through hands-on prototyping and coordination with TDS whereappropriate.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree inEconomics,Data Science,Real Estate, Applied Economics, Geography,UrbanPlanningor anyclosely related field with quantitative emphasis.A master's degree ispreferredand adoctoral degree is a plus.

  • 2 to 6yearsof experience ina research, analytical, or data science role, preferably in a real estate, urban policy, planning, or economic research context.

  • Strong command of quantitative methods: regression,time series analysis,spatial econometrics, or comparable approaches applied to real estate or urban economic questions.

  • Working knowledge of geospatial data and methods: experience with GIS tools (ArcGIS, QGIS, or programmatic approaches via R or Python), familiarity with spatial data formats and concepts, and comfort integrating geographic context into analysis.

  • Proficiencyin Python and/or R for data analysis, modeling, and pipeline construction; working knowledge of SQL. Familiarity with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS) and version control is a plus.

  • Experience working with public datasets commonly used in urban and real estate research: Census products (ACS, TIGER, LODES), BLS, IPUMS, or similar.

  • Ability to produce clean, well-documented, reproducible analytical work and communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

  • Comfortable operating in a cross-functional environment, working both independently and alongside engineering and research teams on iterative deliverables.

  • Genuine intellectual interest in urban economics, commercial real estate markets, and the spatial dimensions of economic activity.

  • Comfortability in communicating analysis, methods and related topics withrelated teams and immediate management.


Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.
The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate's experience and qualifications.
The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role.
The compensation for the position is: $ 114,750.00 - $135,000.00Cushman & Wakefield is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or emailAccommodations@cushwake.com. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.

INCO: "Cushman & Wakefield"

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