Geospatial Analyst / GIS.
Raleigh.
$72,000
median salary, 1% below the national average
$55,000 to $95,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
If you are evaluating a Geospatial Analyst / GIS offer in Raleigh, NC, here is the reality: $55,000 to $95,000, with $72,000 as the midpoint. 1% below the national average. Industry application drives the widest pay variation, with defense, oil and gas, and tech companies paying 20 to 35% more than government or environmental consulting. Do not accept the first number.
Salary range
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How Raleigh compares
Raleigh, NC
$72,000
Cost of living: 1% below average
National Average
$73,000
Raleigh is $1,000 below
What you should know
Here is what the Geospatial Analyst / GIS market actually looks like in Raleigh. Raleigh sits at the heart of the Research Triangle, one of America's premier tech and life sciences corridors. Cisco, Red Hat, Epic Games, and numerous biotech firms drive strong demand for engineering, research, and product roles. The combination of top tier universities and moderate living costs creates an exceptionally favorable salary to expense ratio. Industry application drives the widest pay variation, with defense, oil and gas, and tech companies paying 20 to 35% more than government or environmental consulting. Proficiency in Python, R, and cloud-based geospatial platforms boosts earnings significantly. Remote sensing and LiDAR processing skills add notable premiums.
Junior GIS analysts start at $56,000 to $65,000. Senior geospatial analysts earn $73,000 to $96,000 after four to six years. GIS managers and geospatial directors reach $100,000 to $135,000, with principal spatial data scientists at tech firms exceeding $150,000. In Raleigh, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Government GIS roles offer stable benefits, pension, and step increases. Defense contractors add clearance pay of $5,000 to $15,000. Tech companies working on mapping, autonomous vehicles, or logistics offer equity grants and 10 to 15% bonuses. And on the tax side: north Carolina's flat 4.5% income tax keeps the burden low. Raleigh has no city income tax, and the Triangle's affordable housing amplifies your take home purchasing power. When someone quotes you $72,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Cite Research Triangle talent competition in your negotiation. Employers here compete directly with each other and with remote offers, creating favorable leverage for candidates. The range for Geospatial Analyst / GISs in Raleigh runs from $55,000 to $95,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Top industries in Raleigh
Negotiating in Raleigh
Cite Research Triangle talent competition in your negotiation. Employers here compete directly with each other and with remote offers, creating favorable leverage for candidates.