Welcome to the world of GIS—a field where maps meet meaning and careers meet endless possibilities. If you’ve ever wondered where a Geographic Information System (GIS) career could take you, the answer is: just about anywhere. One of our favorite Esri slides (see below) outlines 16 major career clusters where GIS is making a real impact. From healthcare to agriculture, public safety to the arts—GIS is transforming industries and empowering professionals to make data-driven decisions based on location.

In many higher education institutions, GIS is being rebranded as Location Analysis—a term that brings clarity to what GIS professionals actually do. It’s not just about geography; it’s about understanding where things happen, why they happen there, and what their implications are. GIS professionals document location, dimensions, and rich attribute data that help organizations solve complex spatial problems—from managing natural resources to designing smarter cities.

Each of the 16 career pathways listed—from Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics to Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security—offers unique “days in the life” for GIS professionals. In agriculture, you might track crop health using drone imagery. In public health, you might map disease outbreaks and response zones. In marketing, you could analyze customer demographics to pinpoint the best location for a new store. The versatility of GIS means that your skillset is never boxed in.

With the rise of Artificial Intelligence, the GIS landscape is evolving even faster. AI can now help automate feature extraction from satellite imagery, predict future land use patterns, and optimize delivery routes in real time. This convergence of AI and GIS makes now one of the most exciting times to enter the field.