Surveyors

What Surveyors Do

Surveyors make precise measurements to determine property boundaries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHYyQka2Z7Y

Work Environment

Surveying involves both fieldwork and office work. When working outside, surveyors may stand for long periods and often walk long distances, sometimes in bad weather. Most work full time.

How to Become a Surveyor

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

Pay

The median annual wage for surveyors was $63,420 in May 2019.

Job Outlook

Employment of surveyors is projected to grow 2 percent from 2019 to 2029, slower than the average for all occupations. Surveyors will continue to be needed to certify boundary lines, work on resource extraction projects, and review sites for construction.

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

Duties

Surveyors typically do the following:

• 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
• Research land records, survey records, and land titles
• Look for evidence of previous boundaries to determine where boundary lines are located
• Record the results of surveying and verify the accuracy of data
• Prepare plots, maps, and reports
• Present findings to clients and government agencies
• 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. They use a variety of measuring equipment depending upon the type of survey.

When taking measurements in the field, surveyors make use of the Global Positioning System (GPS), a system of satellites that locates reference points with a high degree of precision. Surveyors use handheld GPS units and automated systems known as robotic total stations to collect relevant information about the terrain they are surveying. Surveyors then interpret and verify the results on a computer.

Surveyors also use Geographic Information Systems (GIS)—technology that allows surveyors to present spatial information visually as maps, reports, and charts. For example, a surveyor can overlay aerial or satellite images with GIS data, such as tree density in a given region, and create digital maps. They then use the results to advise governments and businesses on where to plan homes, roads, and landfills.

Although advances in surveying technology now allow many jobs to be performed by just one surveyor, other jobs may be performed by a crew, consisting of a licensed surveyor and trained surveying technicians. The person in charge of the crew, known as the party chief, may be either a surveyor or a senior surveying technician. The party chief leads day-to-day work activities.

Surveyors also work with civil engineers, landscape architects, cartographers and photogrammetrists, and urban and regional planners to develop comprehensive design documents.

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.

Engineering or construction surveyors determine the precise location of roads or buildings and proper depths for building foundations. They show changes to the property line and indicate potential restrictions on the property, such as what can be built on it and how large the structure can be. They also may survey the grade and topography of roads.

Forensic surveyors survey and record accident scenes for potential landscape effects.

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

Marine or hydrographic surveyors survey harbors, rivers, and other bodies of water to determine shorelines, the topography of the floor, water depth, and other features.

Mine surveyors survey and map the tunnels in an underground mine. They survey surface mines to determine the volume of materials mined.

Surveyors held about 48,000 jobs in 2019. The largest employers of surveyors were as follows:

Architectural, engineering, and related services	69%
Government	10
Construction	7
Self-employed workers	5
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction	2

Depending on the specific job duties, surveying involves both fieldwork and office work. Fieldwork involves working outdoors in all types of weather, walking long distances, and standing for extended periods while taking measurements. Surveyors sometimes climb hills with heavy packs of surveying instruments. When working near hazards such as traffic, surveyors generally wear brightly colored or reflective vests so they may be seen more easily. When working in underground mines, surveyors work in enclosed spaces.

Traveling is often part of the job, and surveyors may commute long distances or stay at a project location for an extended period of time. Those who work on resource extraction projects may work in remote areas and spend long periods away from home.

Work Schedules

Surveyors usually work full time. When construction activity is high, they may work more hours than usual.

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of surveyors.

	Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2019
	Cartographers and Photogrammetrists	Cartographers and photogrammetrists collect, measure, and interpret geographic information in order to create and update maps and charts for regional planning, education, and other purposes.	Bachelor’s degree	$65,470
	Civil Engineers	Civil engineers design, build, and supervise infrastructure projects and systems.	Bachelor’s degree	$87,060
	Civil Engineering Technicians	Civil engineering technicians help civil engineers to plan, design, and build highways, bridges, and other infrastructure projects for commercial, industrial, residential, and land development projects.	Associate’s degree	$53,410
	Construction and Building Inspectors	Construction and building inspectors ensure that construction meets building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications.	High school diploma or equivalent	$60,710
	Drafters	Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings.	Associate’s degree	$56,830
	Geographers	Geographers study the Earth and the distribution of its land, features, and inhabitants.	Bachelor’s degree	$81,540
	Hydrologists	Hydrologists study how water moves across and through the Earth’s crust.	Bachelor’s degree	$81,270
	Landscape Architects	Landscape architects design parks and other outdoor spaces.	Bachelor’s degree	$69,360
	Surveying and Mapping Technicians	Surveying and mapping technicians collect data and make maps of the Earth’s surface.	High school diploma or equivalent	$45,010
	Urban and Regional Planners	Urban and regional planners develop land use plans and programs that help create communities, accommodate population growth, and revitalize physical facilities.	Master’s degree	$74,350

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

National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying

National Society of Professional Surveyors

For information about a career as a geodetic surveyor, visit

American Association for Geodetic Surveying

For a list of schools offering accredited programs, visit

ABET

O*NET

Geodetic Surveyors

Surveyors