Surveyors

Summary

What Surveyors Do About this section

Surveyors update boundary lines and prepare sites for construction so that legal disputes are prevented.

Surveyors make precise measurements to determine property boundaries. They provide data relevant to features of the Earth’s surface, such as shape and contour, for engineering, mapmaking, construction, and other purposes.

Duties

Surveyors typically do the following:

• Search legal records, survey records, and land titles to obtain information about property boundaries in areas to be surveyed
• Measure distances and angles between points on, above, and below the Earth’s surface
• Travel to locations and use known reference points to determine the exact location of important features
• Record the results of surveying and verify the accuracy of data
• Prepare or supervise preparation of plots, maps, and reports
• Present findings to clients
• Establish official land and water boundaries for deeds, leases, and other legal documents and testify in court regarding survey work

Surveyors mark and document the location of legal property lines. For example, when a house or commercial building is bought or sold, surveyors may mark property boundaries to prevent or resolve disputes.

Much of the measuring equipment surveyors use incorporates technology. For example, when taking measurements in the field, surveyors use handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) units as well as robotic total stations, instruments that automate positioning of a telescope. They also use computers to interpret and verify the results of the information they gather.

In addition, surveyors use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to present spatial information as visualizations in maps, reports, and charts. For example, a surveyor might overlay aerial or satellite images with GIS data, such as tree density in a region, and use Computer Aided Design (CAD) software to create digital maps.

Surveyors may be part of a crew that includes surveying technicians. These crews also work with civil engineers, landscape architects, cartographers and photogrammetrists, and urban and regional planners to develop comprehensive design documents. The documents have a variety of purposes, such as to advise local governments on where to plan and build roads.

The following are examples of types of surveyors:

Boundary or land surveyors determine the legal property lines and help determine the exact locations of real estate and construction projects.

Geodetic surveyors use high-accuracy technology, including aerial and satellite observations, to measure large areas of the Earth’s surface.

Pipeline surveyors survey and record the location of existing and planned pipelines to ensure that placement complies with established requirements.

Work Environment About this section

Surveyors collect data outdoors.

Surveyors held about 52,600 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of surveyors were as follows:

Surveying involves both fieldwork and office work. Fieldwork may require working outdoors in all types of weather, walking long distances, and standing for extended periods while taking measurements. Surveyors may climb hills with heavy packs of surveying instruments. When working near hazards such as traffic, surveyors generally wear brightly colored or reflective vests to make themselves more visible. When working in underground mines, surveyors are in enclosed spaces.

Traveling is often part of the job, and surveyors may commute long distances. Those who work on resource extraction projects may be in remote areas and spend long periods away from home.

Work Schedules

Most surveyors work full time. They may have longer workdays while doing fieldwork.

How to Become a Surveyor About this section

Along with a degree, surveyors typically need to work with a licensed surveyor.

Surveyors typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. They must be licensed before they can certify legal documents and provide surveying services to the public.

Education

Surveyors typically need a bachelor’s degree in land surveying or a related field, such as engineering or natural resources. Some colleges and universities offer programs that prepare students to become licensed surveyors.

In some cases, employers may hire candidates who have an associate’s degree and additional training.

Training

Entry-level surveyors often work under the direction of a licensed surveyor for several years before they qualify to obtain a license. This training may be in the form of an internship or apprenticeship.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Some surveyors begin as surveying technicians and become licensed surveyors after gaining many years of work experience under the direction of a licensed surveyor. Specific requirements vary by state. Check with your state’s licensing agency for more information.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

All 50 states and the District of Columbia require surveyors to be licensed before they can provide their services to the public. These services include certifying legal documents that show property lines or determine proper markings, such as for construction projects.

Prospective licensed surveyors may need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in order to sit for the licensing exam. Candidates typically work for several years under the direction of a licensed surveyor to qualify for licensure.

Although the process of obtaining a license varies by state, a process established by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) specifies requirements for education, exams, and work experience.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Surveyors must provide clear instructions to team members, clients, and government officials. Both written and oral communication are important.

Detail oriented. Surveyors must be precise and accurate in their work, which includes making measurements and producing maps, reports, and legally binding documents.

Physical stamina. Surveyors do fieldwork outdoors, often in rugged terrain. They must be able to walk long distances, sometimes while carrying heavy equipment, and may stand for long periods.

Problem-solving skills. Surveyors must reconcile discrepancies between information in documents and current conditions on the land.

Time-management skills. Surveyors must be able to effectively plan their own and their team’s work schedules to meet critical deadlines.

Visualization skills. Surveyors must be able to envision how terrain will look when it is moved or altered.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage for surveyors was $68,540 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $41,430, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $109,660.

In May 2023, the median annual wages for surveyors in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Most surveyors work full time. They may have longer workdays while doing fieldwork.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of surveyors is projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 4,000 openings for surveyors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Surveyors will continue to be needed to certify boundary lines and review sites for construction. Employment demand also will be tied to projects such as road repair and mining activities, although the use of drones and other technologies may limit growth somewhat by increasing worker productivity.

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

• Surveyors

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For information about surveying, career opportunities, and licensure requirements, visit

National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)

National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS)

For information about a career as a geodetic surveyor, visit

American Association for Geodetic Surveying (AAGS)

For a list of schools offering accredited programs, visit

ABET

O*NET

Geodetic Surveyors

Surveyors