Army 35G Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Analyst to Civilian: Complete Career Transition Guide (With Salary Data)

Bottom Line Up Front

Army 35G Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Analysts transitioning out—you're entering one of the fastest-growing intelligence fields. Your imagery analysis expertise, geospatial intelligence production, satellite and drone imagery interpretation, terrain analysis, GIS proficiency, and ability to extract intelligence from visual data make you highly sought after by both government agencies and private sector companies. Realistic first-year salaries range from $80,000-$100,000 with federal agencies like NGA or entry-level contractor positions, scaling to $110,000-$150,000 with mid-career positions at defense contractors or commercial satellite companies, and $150,000-$180,000+ for senior GEOINT positions or specialized technical roles. Your TS/SCI clearance adds $20,000-$35,000 in salary premium.

The geospatial intelligence market is exploding. Commercial satellite companies (Maxar, Planet Labs, BlackSky) are launching hundreds of satellites. Tech companies need geospatial analysts. Defense contractors can't hire 35Gs fast enough. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) actively recruits former 35Gs. Climate analysis, disaster response, urban planning, agriculture, and autonomous vehicles all need GEOINT expertise. You have options—and they pay well.

As a 35G, you didn't just "look at pictures." You conducted imagery intelligence (IMINT) and geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) analysis from satellites, drones, and aircraft. You identified military installations, enemy activity, terrain features, and infrastructure changes. You produced intelligence products integrating imagery with other sources. You mastered specialized software (RemoteView, SOCET GXP, ArcGIS). You briefed commanders on enemy positions and terrain impacts on operations. That's technical expertise, spatial analysis, pattern recognition, and geospatial data science—all highly marketable civilian skills.

The key advantage: GEOINT is both government AND commercial. Unlike other intelligence fields dominated by government work, 35Gs can choose federal agencies, defense contractors, OR commercial companies (Maxar, Google Earth, Planet Labs, Esri) with diverse missions. Your skills translate to disaster response, environmental monitoring, urban planning, infrastructure analysis, agriculture, energy, and more.

What Does a 35G Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Analyst Do?

As a 35G, you conducted imagery and geospatial analysis using satellite imagery, aerial photography, and full-motion video to identify and assess threats, terrain, and infrastructure. You performed imagery interpretation, photogrammetry, terrain analysis, and change detection. You operated specialized GEOINT systems and software including RemoteView, SOCET GXP, Google Earth, ArcGIS, and other geospatial tools. You created intelligence products such as Imagery Intelligence Reports (IIRs), geospatial intelligence products, target materials, and terrain studies.

Your work involved analyzing multispectral and hyperspectral imagery, identifying military equipment and facilities, conducting battle damage assessment (BDA), mapping enemy positions, assessing terrain for route planning, and supporting targeting operations. You integrated GEOINT with other intelligence disciplines (HUMINT, SIGINT) to provide comprehensive intelligence assessments. You maintained imagery libraries and databases, collaborated with other intelligence analysts, and briefed commanders on terrain and enemy analysis.

This role required strong visual analysis skills, attention to detail, spatial reasoning, technical proficiency with geospatial software, understanding of geography and terrain, and security clearance to handle sensitive imagery. You developed expertise in satellite imagery interpretation, change detection, geospatial analysis methodologies, intelligence production, and tactical terrain analysis.

Skills You've Developed That Translate to Civilian Careers

Technical GEOINT Skills

Satellite & Aerial Imagery Analysis = Remote sensing analysis for commercial satellite companies, environmental monitoring, agriculture tech, and urban planning

Geospatial Intelligence Production = GIS analysis, spatial data analysis, and geospatial data science for tech companies, government, and commercial firms

Terrain & Infrastructure Analysis = Civil engineering support, urban planning, infrastructure assessment, and construction project planning

Change Detection Analysis = Environmental change monitoring, disaster assessment, infrastructure monitoring for government and commercial clients

Photogrammetry & Mensuration = 3D modeling, mapping, surveying, and precision measurement for engineering and construction industries

GIS Software Proficiency (ArcGIS, QGIS, etc.) = High-demand technical skill across dozens of industries—government, tech, energy, environmental, urban planning

RemoteView, SOCET GXP, ENVI = Specialized GEOINT tools used by defense contractors and intelligence agencies

Full-Motion Video (FMV) Analysis = Drone/ISR video analysis for military, law enforcement, border security, and commercial applications

Professional Skills

Pattern Recognition & Visual Analysis = Data analysis, quality assurance, and anomaly detection applicable to any visual data field

Multi-source Intelligence Integration = Data fusion, information synthesis, and strategic analysis combining multiple data types

Technical Writing & Intelligence Reporting = Professional documentation, reporting, and briefing skills for any technical field

Briefing Leadership on Complex Topics = Executive communication translating technical information for non-technical decision-makers

Geospatial Problem-Solving = Spatial thinking and geographic analysis valuable in logistics, urban planning, and emergency management

Classification & Security Protocols = Information security expertise worth significant salary premium in cleared positions

Top Civilian Career Paths for 35G GEOINT Analysts

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) (mission-focused, government stability)

Civilian job titles:

• Imagery Analyst
• Geospatial Analyst
• GEOINT Analyst
• Targeting Analyst
• Geospatial Intelligence Officer
• Imagery Scientist

Salary ranges:

• Entry-level (NGA GG-09 to GG-11): $63,000-$85,000 + locality pay (St. Louis or DC adds 20-30%) = $76,000-$110,000
• Mid-career (GG-12 to GG-13): $85,000-$115,000 + locality = $102,000-$145,000
• Senior level (GG-14 to GG-15): $115,000-$150,000 + locality = $138,000-$180,000+

What translates directly:

• Everything. NGA is the national authority for GEOINT—your military GEOINT work is exactly what they do
• Imagery analysis and interpretation
• Geospatial intelligence production
• Satellite and aerial imagery expertise
• GEOINT tools and systems
• Your TS/SCI clearance is required

Certifications needed:

• Bachelor's degree (preferred, sometimes required depending on position)
• Active TS/SCI clearance (mandatory)
• GEOINT Professional Certification (GPC) (NGA offers this—valuable for career progression)
• Polygraph (required for most NGA positions)

Reality check: NGA has two main campuses: Springfield, Virginia (DC area) and St. Louis, Missouri. Most imagery analyst positions are at these locations. The hiring process takes 12-18 months including background investigation and polygraph. NGA doesn't use the General Schedule (GS) pay scale—they use their own GG system with pay bands instead of step increases.

The mission is identical to what you did in the military—supporting warfighters and national security—but with better work-life balance, higher pay than military, excellent federal benefits, and no deployments (though OCONUS assignments are possible).

NGA actively recruits military GEOINT professionals. Your 35G experience makes you highly competitive. Apply 18+ months before separation.

Best for: 35G analysts who want to continue GEOINT mission, prefer government stability, and want federal benefits with clear career progression.

Defense Contractor GEOINT Positions (highest near-term pay, fastest hiring)

Civilian job titles:

• Geospatial Intelligence Analyst
• Imagery Analyst
• Full-Motion Video (FMV) Analyst
• Geospatial Analyst
• Targeting Analyst
• GEOINT Integrator
• Geospatial Data Scientist

Salary ranges:

• Entry-level (0-3 years): $80,000-$100,000
• Mid-career (3-7 years): $100,000-$135,000
• Senior-level (7-12 years): $135,000-$165,000
• Lead/Principal (12+ years): $165,000-$200,000+

What translates directly: Everything. You're doing the same GEOINT work as a contractor that you did in the Army, supporting the same government customers (NGA, DIA, combatant commands, SOF units).

Certifications needed:

• Active TS/SCI clearance (non-negotiable)
• Security+ or equivalent (many contracts require this baseline certification—$400-600 exam)
• Bachelor's degree (preferred, sometimes waived for experience)
• GEOINT Professional Certification (GPC) (optional but valuable)
• GIS certifications (Esri, GISP) (boost your competitiveness)

Companies actively hiring 35G analysts:

• Maxar Technologies (leading commercial satellite imagery provider, also defense contracts)
• BAE Systems (major GEOINT contractor)
• Leidos (large intelligence contracts)
• CACI International (GEOINT support)
• Booz Allen Hamilton
• General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT)
• Peraton
• SAIC
• ManTech
• Parsons
• Raytheon Intelligence & Space
• L3Harris
• Northrop Grumman
• PAE
• AECOM/Amentum

Reality check: Defense GEOINT contracting is stable and well-paid. Contracts typically last 3-5 years with options to extend. Most positions are in DC/Northern Virginia, Tampa (CENTCOM), Colorado Springs, San Antonio, or OCONUS locations (Germany, Korea, etc.).

Contractors often work at government facilities (NGA, military bases) alongside government civilians doing identical work but earning 20-30% more. The trade-off is less job security—if the contract ends or isn't renewed, you're job hunting. However, the GEOINT market is strong, and experienced analysts with active clearances find work quickly.

Best for: 35G analysts who want maximum salary, faster hiring process than federal government, and flexibility to move between contracts/companies.

Commercial Satellite & Geospatial Companies (cutting-edge technology, diverse missions)

Civilian job titles:

• Geospatial Analyst
• Remote Sensing Analyst
• Imagery Analyst
• Geospatial Data Scientist
• Geospatial Intelligence Analyst (commercial sector)
• Earth Observation Analyst

Salary ranges:

• Entry-level: $75,000-$95,000
• Mid-level: $95,000-$130,000
• Senior-level: $130,000-$160,000
• Lead/Principal: $160,000-$200,000+

What translates directly:

• Satellite and aerial imagery analysis
• Change detection and monitoring
• Geospatial analysis and reporting
• GIS software proficiency
• Visual intelligence extraction

Companies hiring:

• Maxar Technologies (commercial satellite imagery, DigitalGlobe)
• Planet Labs (daily global imagery from 200+ satellites)
• BlackSky (real-time satellite monitoring)
• Capella Space (synthetic aperture radar satellites)
• Esri (ArcGIS—leading GIS software company)
• Google Earth (geospatial products)
• Microsoft (Azure Maps, geospatial services)
• Amazon (AWS geospatial services)
• Orbital Insight (AI-powered geospatial analytics)
• Descartes Labs (geospatial data platform)
• Ursa Space Systems (SAR analytics)
• HawkEye 360 (RF geolocation)

Reality check: Commercial GEOINT is different from military/government work. Instead of analyzing enemy forces, you're monitoring agriculture, tracking ships for maritime commerce, assessing disaster damage, monitoring construction projects, analyzing environmental changes, or supporting commercial clients.

The missions are diverse: helping insurance companies assess risk, supporting agriculture companies with crop monitoring, tracking deforestation for environmental groups, monitoring global supply chains for corporations, or providing data for autonomous vehicles.

Many positions don't require security clearances, which means more geographic flexibility (San Francisco, Denver, New York, not just DC). The work-life balance is typically better than government/contractor roles. Companies often offer stock options and bonuses.

The downside: less "national security mission" and you may need to learn commercial/business applications of GEOINT. Salaries are competitive but may start slightly lower than cleared defense positions.

Best for: 35G analysts interested in commercial applications of GEOINT, want to live outside DC area, prefer private sector culture, and are excited about cutting-edge satellite technology.

GIS Analyst Positions (widespread opportunities, many industries)

Civilian job titles:

• GIS Analyst
• Geospatial Analyst
• GIS Specialist
• GIS Technician
• Cartographer
• Spatial Data Analyst

Salary ranges:

• Entry-level: $55,000-$70,000
• Mid-level: $70,000-$95,000
• Senior-level: $95,000-$125,000
• GIS Manager: $100,000-$140,000

Industries hiring:

• Government (federal, state, local—urban planning, transportation, emergency management)
• Energy (oil & gas, renewable energy, utilities)
• Environmental (conservation, forestry, wildlife management, EPA)
• Engineering & Construction (civil engineering firms)
• Telecommunications (network planning, site selection)
• Real Estate & Urban Planning (development, zoning, infrastructure)
• Healthcare (epidemiology, health services planning)
• Transportation & Logistics (route optimization, fleet management)

Reality check: GIS analyst roles are available nationwide—not just DC area. Nearly every industry uses GIS. The work is less "intelligence-focused" and more data analysis, mapping, and spatial problem-solving. Clearance often not required, which means more geographic and industry flexibility.

Salaries are lower than cleared GEOINT positions but cost of living is often lower too. Job market is strong—Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5% growth for cartographers and GIS specialists through 2032.

Best for: 35G analysts who want to use geospatial skills outside intelligence field, prefer living away from DC, and want industry diversity.

Drone/UAV Analyst Positions (growing field, multiple applications)

Civilian job titles:

• Drone Imagery Analyst
• UAV Data Analyst
• Full-Motion Video Analyst
• Remote Sensing Analyst (drones)
• ISR Analyst (commercial)

Salary ranges:

• Entry-level: $60,000-$80,000
• Mid-level: $80,000-$110,000
• Senior-level: $110,000-$145,000

Applications:

• Defense/Government: Border security, law enforcement, military contracts
• Commercial: Infrastructure inspection (pipelines, powerlines, bridges), agriculture monitoring, construction progress tracking, insurance assessments
• Emergency Response: Disaster assessment, search and rescue, wildfire monitoring
• Energy: Solar/wind farm monitoring, oil & gas infrastructure

Best for: 35Gs with FMV experience who want to work with drone technology in civilian applications.

Required Certifications & Training

High Priority (Get These)

GEOINT Professional Certification (GPC)

DoD program for GEOINT practitioners. Multiple credential levels including GPC-Fundamentals (entry-level).

• Cost: Varies by level, employer often funds
• Value: Industry standard for GEOINT professionals, required/preferred by many employers
• Action: Start working toward this while on active duty or immediately after separation

GIS Certification (Esri Technical Certification or GISP)

Esri certifications demonstrate ArcGIS proficiency. GISP (GIS Professional) is broader industry certification.

• Cost: Esri exams $100-250 each; GISP ~$500-700
• Time: Varies by certification
• ROI: Valuable for commercial GIS roles, demonstrates technical proficiency
• Action: Get Esri ArcGIS Desktop or Pro certification within first year

CompTIA Security+

Baseline cybersecurity certification required for DoD contractor positions.

• Cost: $400-600 exam
• Time: 2-6 weeks study
• ROI: Required for most defense contracts—get this immediately
• Action: Complete 6-12 months before separation (Army COOL may fund)

Bachelor's Degree (Geography, GIS, Remote Sensing, or related field)

Required for most federal positions, preferred for contractors and commercial companies.

• Cost: $0 with GI Bill
• Time: 2-4 years (many have credits already)
• ROI: Opens doors to 80%+ of positions
• Action: Enroll immediately if you don't have one

Maintain TS/SCI Clearance

Worth $20,000-$35,000 salary premium for cleared positions.

• Cost: $0 if you accept cleared job within 24 months
• Value: Critical for NGA, defense contractors
• Action: Accept cleared position within 24 months of investigation date

Medium Priority (If It Fits Your Path)

USGIF Certifications (Currently Suspended)

Note: USGIF (US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation) suspended their Certified GEOINT Professional (CGP) program in 2024 due to low demand. However, USGIF-accredited academic programs remain valuable.

Penn State GEOINT Certificate

Graduate certificate in Geospatial Intelligence Analytics (15 credits, fully online).

• Cost: ~$15,405 total (GI Bill covers most)
• Time: Can complete while working
• Value: Formal GEOINT education, USGIF-accredited
• Action: Consider if pursuing advanced GEOINT career

Remote Sensing Certificate Programs

Various universities offer remote sensing certificates (Virginia Tech, University of Maryland, etc.).

• Cost: Varies, $5,000-$15,000 (GI Bill eligible)
• Value: Technical depth in remote sensing science

Master's Degree (Geography, GIS, Remote Sensing, Geospatial Intelligence)

Accelerates career to senior/leadership positions, especially in commercial and academic sectors.

• Cost: $0-40,000 with GI Bill
• ROI: Opens management, research, and specialized technical roles
• Top programs: Penn State (online GEOINT), University of Southern California (GIS), Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland

Python/Programming Skills

Increasingly valuable as GEOINT becomes more automated and AI-integrated.

• Cost: Free (self-study) to $500 (online courses)
• Value: Differentiates you for technical roles, geospatial data science
• Action: Learn Python for ArcGIS, GDAL, geospatial libraries

Low Priority (Nice to Have)

Drone Pilot License (Part 107)

FAA certification for commercial drone operations.

• Cost: ~$150 exam
• Value: Useful if working with drone companies, but most analyst roles don't require this

Advanced GIS Certifications

Esri offers many specialized certifications (web GIS, ArcGIS Server, etc.).

• Cost: $100-250 per exam
• Value: Demonstrates advanced technical skills for specific GIS applications

Companies Actively Hiring 35G Veterans (100+ Organizations)

Federal Agencies

1. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
2. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
3. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
4. National Security Agency (NSA)
5. US Army Geospatial Center
6. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)
7. US Geological Survey (USGS)
8. NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration)
9. Department of Homeland Security
10. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Major Defense Contractors (GEOINT)

11. Maxar Technologies
12. BAE Systems
13. Leidos
14. CACI International
15. Booz Allen Hamilton
16. General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT)
17. Peraton
18. SAIC
19. ManTech International
20. Parsons Corporation
21. Raytheon Intelligence & Space
22. L3Harris Technologies
23. Amentum (formerly AECOM)
24. PAE
25. Jacobs Engineering
26. Northrop Grumman
27. KBR
28. Vectrus
29. Serco
30. KeyW Corporation

Commercial Satellite & Earth Observation Companies

31. Planet Labs
32. BlackSky
33. Capella Space
34. Satellogic
35. Orbital Insight
36. Descartes Labs
37. Ursa Space Systems
38. HawkEye 360
39. Spire Global
40. ICEYE

GIS Software & Geospatial Technology Companies

41. Esri (ArcGIS)
42. Google (Google Earth, Maps)
43. Microsoft (Azure Maps)
44. Amazon (AWS Location Service)
45. Mapbox
46. HERE Technologies
47. TomTom
48. Trimble
49. Hexagon Geospatial
50. Bentley Systems

Engineering & Infrastructure Firms

51. AECOM
52. Jacobs
53. Tetra Tech
54. HDR
55. CH2M Hill (now Jacobs)
56. Stantec
57. Atkins (SNC-Lavalin)
58. Dewberry
59. Michael Baker International
60. Gannett Fleming

Environmental & Natural Resources

61. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
62. US Forest Service
63. National Park Service
64. Bureau of Land Management
65. The Nature Conservancy
66. World Wildlife Fund
67. Conservation International
68. Environmental Systems Research Institute
69. GreenInfo Network
70. EcoHealth Alliance

Energy Companies

71. ExxonMobil
72. Chevron
73. Shell
74. BP
75. ConocoPhillips
76. NextEra Energy
77. Duke Energy
78. Dominion Energy
79. Sempra Energy
80. Kinder Morgan

Telecommunications

81. AT&T
82. Verizon
83. T-Mobile
84. Crown Castle
85. American Tower Corporation

Transportation & Logistics

86. UPS (logistics analysis)
87. FedEx
88. DHL
89. Union Pacific Railroad
90. Norfolk Southern
91. BNSF Railway

Tech Companies (Geospatial Services)

92. Apple (Maps)
93. Uber (geospatial data)
94. Lyft
95. Tesla (mapping for autonomous vehicles)
96. Waymo (Google autonomous vehicles)
97. NVIDIA (AI for geospatial)

Agriculture Technology

98. John Deere (precision agriculture)
99. Climate Corporation (Bayer)
100. Trimble Agriculture

Salary Expectations & Geographic Considerations

By Experience Level

Entry-Level (0-3 years post-military):

• Federal (NGA): $76,000-$110,000 (with locality)
• Defense Contractors: $80,000-$100,000
• Commercial Companies: $75,000-$95,000
• GIS Analyst: $55,000-$70,000

Mid-Career (3-7 years):

• Federal (NGA): $102,000-$145,000
• Defense Contractors: $100,000-$135,000
• Commercial: $95,000-$130,000
• GIS Analyst: $70,000-$95,000

Senior-Level (7-12+ years):

• Federal (NGA): $138,000-$180,000+
• Defense Contractors: $135,000-$165,000
• Commercial: $130,000-$160,000
• GIS Analyst: $95,000-$125,000

Top 10 Cities for 35G Careers

1. Washington DC / Northern Virginia

• NGA Springfield campus, defense contractors, federal agencies
• Salary: $95,000-$170,000 (high cost of living)

2. St. Louis, Missouri

• NGA headquarters (largest GEOINT facility in US)
• Salary: $80,000-$150,000 (moderate cost of living—excellent value)

3. San Francisco Bay Area

• Tech companies (Google, Planet Labs, Orbital Insight), startups
• Salary: $100,000-$165,000 (very high cost of living)

4. Denver, Colorado

• Maxar headquarters, satellite companies, defense contractors
• Salary: $85,000-$145,000 (moderate-high cost of living)

5. Colorado Springs, Colorado

• Space Force, defense contractors, satellite operations
• Salary: $80,000-$140,000 (moderate cost of living)

6. Tampa, Florida

• CENTCOM, SOCOM contractors
• Salary: $80,000-$135,000 (no state income tax)

7. San Antonio, Texas

• Military intelligence community, contractors
• Salary: $75,000-$130,000 (low cost of living, no state income tax)

8. Los Angeles/Southern California

• Aerospace companies, defense contractors, satellite operations
• Salary: $90,000-$150,000 (high cost of living)

9. Seattle, Washington

• Tech companies (Microsoft, Amazon), commercial geospatial
• Salary: $90,000-$155,000 (high cost of living)

10. Huntsville, Alabama

• Army missile defense, defense contractors
• Salary: $75,000-$130,000 (low cost of living—excellent value)

Transition Timeline & Action Plan

12-18 Months Before Separation:

• Apply to NGA (hiring takes 12-18 months)
• Start bachelor's degree if you don't have one
• Get Security+ certification (required for contractors)
• Document your clearance level and investigation date
• Create LinkedIn profile emphasizing "Geospatial Intelligence Analyst" and "GEOINT"
• Research companies/agencies that interest you

6-12 Months Out:

• Apply to defense contractors on ClearanceJobs.com (30+ positions)
• Get GIS certification (Esri ArcGIS)
• Build portfolio of geospatial work (create maps, analysis projects to show skills)
• Network with former 35Gs on LinkedIn
• Consider SkillBridge internship with geospatial company

3-6 Months Out:

• Aggressive job applications (apply to 50+ positions)
• Practice interviews emphasizing technical GEOINT skills
• Finalize certifications (Security+, GIS)
• Prepare for relocation (most jobs in DC or St. Louis)

Action Items This Week:

1. Register on ClearanceJobs.com and USAJobs.gov
2. Apply to NGA (even if separation is 18 months away)
3. Connect with 20+ former 35Gs on LinkedIn
4. Research Maxar, Planet Labs, Esri, and other commercial geospatial companies
5. Document your GEOINT experience for resume

Your 35G skills are in high demand. The geospatial intelligence field is growing rapidly—both government and commercial sectors need you. Start early, maintain your clearance, get key certifications, and target strategic opportunities. You've got marketable, technical skills that translate directly to six-figure civilian careers.

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Ready to launch your GEOINT career? Connect with NGA recruiters, explore commercial satellite companies, and ensure your clearance stays active. The future of geospatial intelligence is bright—and you're positioned perfectly to capitalize on it.