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Careers›Roles›Data Mapper
Mid-Level

Data Mapper

When two systems have to talk — a migration, an integration, a merger — you draw the map between them, matching every field from one structure to another. The translator between data that wasn't built to fit.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
I
R
A
S
E
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Data Mappers
Administrative ServicesGovernment · 51%Professional Services · 35%Energy & Utilities · 6%Technology & Information · 1%Education · 1%
Job markets for Data Mappers
Employment concentration · ~62 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Technology
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Data Mapper

The work means analyzing source and target structures, defining how each field maps over, and handling the mismatches that never line up cleanly. You document mappings, test transformations, and coordinate with developers. The hard part is the exceptions — a field that means different things in each system can quietly corrupt everything if mapped wrong.

What people underestimate is how much detective work is involved — undocumented systems, legacy quirks, and assumptions nobody wrote down. The work is meticulous and easy to get subtly wrong, deadlines tie to projects, and a bad mapping surfaces as a bug far downstream. Tools and domains vary, but the precision doesn't.

It fits someone methodical, patient, and comfortable in the fiddly details. If you want creative or big-picture work, the role can feel granular. But if you like puzzles where precision matters — and the quiet satisfaction when two systems finally exchange data cleanly — the work tends to suit, mapping after mapping.

What people in this role value
AchievementAbove avg
Working ConditionsModerate
IndependenceModerate
SupportModerate
RecognitionLower
RelationshipsLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$112K+9%
Professional Services$101K-2%
Energy & Utilities$88K-15%
Wholesale & Distribution$85K-17%
Government$80K-22%
Compared to Technology average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Data Mappers (SOC 17-1021.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Technology →
Data MapperImagery AnalystGeospatial SpecialistLIDAR Technician (Light Detection and Ranging Technician)Stereo CompilerStereoplotter OperatorPhotogrammetric TechnicianCartographerDigital CartographerCartographic Designer
Exploring the Data Mapper career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$51K–$121K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
13K
U.S. Employment
+6.4%
10yr Growth
1K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$80K$77K$74K$71K$68K201920202021202220232024$68K$80K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionWritingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningActive LearningMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingSpeakingSocial Perceptiveness
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
17-1021.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

directorData Operations Director$171KdirectorData Center Product Director$109KdirectorClinical Data Management Director (CDM Director)$113KmidImagery Analyst$95KjuniorJunior Imagery Analyst$95KseniorSenior Imagery Analyst$95K
View all Technology roles →

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.