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GIS, short for Geographic Information System, is the technical term for the computer-based processing and analysis of geographic or geolocalized data. GIS allows users to collect, clean, and analyze data and present it as maps or visualisations.
In this way, GIS enables users to understand and analyze data in relation to space, and to identify patterns, trends, and relationships. Among other things, this enables business process optimisation and ultimately better, data-driven decision making:
GIS is used in many industries and fields, including
But what exactly is the GIS industry? What are the job prospects for GIS professionals? Where in Germany is GIS most in demand (quick tip: GIS Hannover is in high demand!) We take a deep dive and provide a great overview of GIS jobs. Find your GIS job now on GoGeoGo.
There is no such thing as the one GIS job, as the job profile can be very variable. However, there are basically three types of specialist positions. This refers to the relationship you have when working with geographic information systems. This is true regardless of the sector in which the GIS work takes place.
Working students usually already have GIS experience through an internship - although there are certainly opportunities to join directly. As a GIS working student, you are usually working alongside a Bachelor's or Master's degree to gain practical work experience alongside your theoretical education. Best of all, as a GIS working student, it is much easier to get a full-time job!
A GIS analyst is typically a young professional with a degree in geography, computer science, or other fields and little to no work experience. This position is about being able to bring cartography, data, and programming together. It usually starts with extensive data collection, cleaning and conversion.
Using geographic information systems and industry-standard software, geospatial data must be linked with economic, environmental, social, or other data to create digital maps.
Analysts can then use this data to identify spatial patterns, anomalies, or trends. The visualized end products can provide business value to customers or contribute to the generation of scientific knowledge.
GIS analysts do not have to be professional programmers. However, it is important to learn some (not all!) programming languages, such as:
Basic skills in statistics and, of course, a connection to geography or maps and a passion for spatial and creative thinking are also practical.
In addition to the private sector and academia, GIS is critical to communities, governments, organizations, the military, and other stakeholders. As digitization and the trends of big data and AI continue to grow, the demand for GIS skills will continue to increase.
In addition to practical qualifications, GIS analysts may find it worthwhile to certify their own GIS skills, for example as a GIS Professional (GISP). Another option is to strengthen your project management skills with project management training courses to advance your own career.
GIS leadership and management positions have one thing in common. You were previously a GIS specialist or GIS expert and have a lot of project experience and leadership skills.
Larger client projects in particular require more than just content knowledge. Whether it's managing a budget, coordinating multiple teams, risk management, or conflict resolution. This work is in addition to the GIS work. A GIS specialist must also be a project manager.
The same goes for leadership. Complex projects often consist of a larger team with several experts, interns, and interfaces from other teams. As a GIS manager, you need to be able to lead such a team and manage people.
There are many job opportunities for GIS professionals, both in the government or public sector and in the private sector. Spatial analysis, geography, and cartography are needed in disaster management, urban planning, the real estate market, and, since the Covid-19 pandemic, in health care.
However, project management and leadership skills are not all that is required for a GIS career and management position. You need a deep understanding of GIS and GIS software, and you need to stay up to date. In addition, such a position requires experience, often five or more years.
GIS managers do not necessarily come from a geography background, but can be specialists from other industries - but the spatial reference and GIS experience are the key factors. While a master's degree is not required, a bachelor's degree is strongly recommended. GIS certifications and work experience round out the profile.
The GIS Developer career field combines IT and programming experience with a focus on GIS. It is often software engineers who specialize in a career in GIS. Programming skills are used to create applications for clients or for GIS specialists and analysts. Knowledge of hardware is also an advantage.
To become a GIS developer, employers usually require at least an undergraduate degree in computer science or with a concentration in computer science and GIS. This includes learning programming languages such as Java, C#, HTML, and database management, especially SQL.
After a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, ideally with a focus on GIS, you will enter the field through an internship. With project experience and further specialization, GIS developers can quickly take a central role in your team.
Although the GIS job market in Germany is relatively small, it is very diverse and linked to many other sectors. Due to the historical importance of geography and the many good universities and institutes, the supply of qualified young people in the field of geography and GIS is very high.
Demand is generated not only by many often smaller SMEs, but also by large companies and organizations, as well as the government, the public sector and actors such as the German Armed Forces. GIS is most in demand in the major conurbations of Berlin, Hamburg and Munich - and beyond!
Anyone who searches for “GIS Jobs Berlin” on the Internet quickly realizes that there is a lot of demand here. One of the most important employers is the public sector, whether in the areas of transport or renewable energy. There are also many organizations that want to cope with the ever-increasing flood of data.
In addition to jobs in GIS, Berlin also has a very accessible Geo-portal of the city of Berlin as well as the well-known training of GIS Academy Berlin.
Hamburg is not only its own little Silicon Valley — it is also an important GIS location. The search for “GIS Jobs Hamburg” brings fewer offers from the public sector, but a wide range of jobs from industry, trade, consulting and other sectors such as the electricity sector.
Hamburg also attracts with a strong GIS focus at the University of Hamburg and an officially funded Training as a GIS and geodata specialist including ESRI certificate.
A little candy to start with - even the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising has a GIS map of their churches and holy sites in Munich. But Munich is also a place to be for GIS professionals away from religion. The state capital Munich not only has an excellent Geoportal, but also regularly advertises GIS jobs for GIS jobs in Munich.
There are also offers from local corporations, research companies and even construction companies.
Over the years, the city of Hanover has developed with its GIS portal made a name. Here you can download data on construction sites, social issues or the environment. The GIS service Hanover (also based in Munich, is known as a training center for young people, adults and even seniors.
The demand for GIS jobs in Hanover is met not only by the state capital itself, but also by a large number of municipalities and public offices. SMEs and several larger corporations complete the picture for the demand from “GIS Hannover.”
Mannheim is also on the list of cities that have an extensive GIS portal offer. However, the job market for GIS jobs in Mannheim is dominated by the private sector. A major advantage is the proximity to Heidelberg, where there are also many relevant jobs.
The relevant consulting and insurance companies as well as personnel companies are also potential employers for GIS specialists in Mannheim.
There is no real GIS degree, such as a Master in GIS, in name at least in Germany. Geoinformation systems are, of course, still an important part of many geo-study programs. For example, GIS-related modules are particularly common in geoinformatics- and geodesy-Study programs.
So if you want to learn GIS, you have two options:
In the GIS sector, the salary varies quite significantly in Germany. Depending on your professional experience, company size, federal state and level of education, you can expect a salary of just under 33,000€ to just under 75,000€. We have done extensive research and compiled the salary ranges mentioned by relevant portals:
When starting out, a GIS specialist salary is on average around 37,000€ per year. A GIS specialist salary includes an average of around 61,000€ per year. GIS experts can expect to pay at least €50,000. With sufficient experience, and often with an appropriate degree, an average GIS Analyst salary is around 46,000€
As in other industries, employees with more experience and with a master's degree can generally earn higher salaries than those with just a bachelor's degree and less experience.
GIS is and will remain an industry with potential. It is about much more than the design of aesthetic maps. In the course of digitalisation, data is becoming more and more important. However, as data alone is difficult to manage, it must be visualized and evaluated in an appropriate and understandable way.
Rapid technological developments, smart cities and the Internet of Things will influence the profession, as will issues of privacy, data security and the complexities of cloud computing.
GIS professionals can expect to be in high demand in the job market for the long term.
Take a look at GoGeoGo today and find the GIS job of your dreams!
What distinguishes GIS from geoinformatics?
Geoinformatics specialists develop and manage systems with which geodata is collected, stored, processed, analyzed and visualized. Geographic information systems (GIS) are a geoinformatics tool to work with this data.
What is ArcGIS
ArcGIS is a geographic information system (GIS) from Esri and is based on the Python programming language. The provider offers various versions. ArcGIS is used in the healthcare sector, the military, disaster control, and crime prevention, among others.
What is the role of GIS in cartography
Maps are no longer created by hand. Instead, geo-related maps use geographic information systems (GIS), which can be used to design maps from data sets.
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