Cartographers and Photogrammetrists Salary
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists in Virginia make a median of $86,660 a year, or about $41.66 an hour. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $122K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $91,423 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 30% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $87K get you in Virginia?
About cartographers and photogrammetrists
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What this looks like in Virginia
Cartographers and photogrammetrists pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $87K locally vs. $81K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level cartographers and photogrammetrists (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $122K or more, a $63K spread from bottom to top.
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists salary by metro in Virginia
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $80K | -8% | 110 |
| Richmond | $79K | -9% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track cartographers and photogrammetrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cartographers and photogrammetrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 30.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for cartographers and photogrammetrists in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cartographers and photogrammetrists typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,569/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is cartographers and photogrammetrist a high-paying job in Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $87K locally vs. $81K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for cartographers and photogrammetrists?
Virginia pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cartographers and photogrammetrists make in Virginia?
The median is $86,660 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,480, and experienced cartographers and photogrammetrists can clear $122,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,407/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 30.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cartographers and photogrammetrists salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cartographers and photogrammetrists salary is worth about $91,423 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cartographers and photogrammetrists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.