Skip navigation

Surveyors

Also called: County Surveyor, Surveyor, Land Surveyor, Survey Party Chief

What they do:
Make exact measurements and determine property boundaries. Provide data relevant to the shape, contour, gravitation, location, elevation, or dimension of land or land features on or near the earth's surface for engineering, mapmaking, mining, land evaluation, construction, and other purposes.
On the job, you would:
  • Verify the accuracy of survey data including measurements and calculations conducted at survey sites.
  • Search legal records, survey records, and land titles to obtain information about property boundaries in areas to be surveyed.
  • Calculate heights, depths, relative positions, property lines, and other characteristics of terrain.

Knowledge

Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
  • geography
Safety and Government
  • law and government
  • public safety and security
Engineering and Technology
  • product and service development
  • design
Business
  • management

Skills

Basic Skills
  • reading work related information
  • using math to solve problems
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Abilities

Math
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide
Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • communicate by writing
Ideas and Logic
  • use rules to solve problems
  • order or arrange things
Spatial
  • imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Dependability
  • Initiative
  • Persistence

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software
  • Geocomp Systems GeoNav
  • HYPACK HYSWEEP
Computer aided design CAD software
  • CMT Incorporated CogoCAD
  • Trimble Terramodel
Map creation software
  • ESRI ArcView
  • Geomechanical design analysis GDA software

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
some college
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Find Certifications

Job Outlook

Average Outlook
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Salary
$55,590
per year, on average
Check out my state Local Salary Info Find Jobs

Explore More

See more details at O*NET OnLine about surveyors.