### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Surveyors Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			surveyors imageSurveyors map out boundaries for construction.							
						Quick Facts:     Surveyors2023     Median Pay
            						$68,540     per year
										$32.95     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Internship/residencyNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    50,800Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    5% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    2,300What Surveyors Do
                                                
                        
                        
Surveyors make precise measurements to determine property boundaries.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Surveying involves both fieldwork and office work. When working outside, surveyors may stand for long periods and walk long distances, sometimes in bad weather. Most surveyors work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a 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.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for surveyors was $68,540 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of surveyors is projected to grow							 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 3,500 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.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for surveyors.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of surveyors with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about surveyors by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Surveyors Do 
            

			SurveyorsSurveyors 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 workSurveyors 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
			SurveyorsSurveyors collect data outdoors.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Surveyors held about 50,800 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of surveyors were as follows:
        Architectural, engineering, and related services
                70%Government
                8Construction
                7Self-employed workers
                4Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
                1Surveying 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

			SurveyorsAlong 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

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                SurveyorsMedian annual wages, May 2023Architects, surveyors, and cartographers$80,850  Surveyors$68,540  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
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:	
        Government
                $85,190Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
                79,990Construction
                68,090Architectural, engineering, and related services
                64,990Most surveyors work full time. They may have longer workdays while doing fieldwork.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                SurveyorsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Surveyors5%  Architects, surveyors, and cartographers4%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of surveyors is projected to grow				 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 3,500 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.
			

                        Employment projections data for     surveyors, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Surveyors**
			17-1022
			50,800
			53,100
			5
			2,300
			Get data
 State & Area Data **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 OES 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.com. 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.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of surveyors. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Cartographers and Photogrammetrists**
            Cartographers and photogrammetrists collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information to create and update maps and related products.
            Bachelor's degree
            $76,210**Civil Engineers**
            Civil engineers plan, design, and supervise the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects.
            Bachelor's degree
            $95,890**Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians**
            Civil engineering technologists and technicians help civil engineers plan, design, and build infrastructure and development projects.
            Associate's degree
            $60,700**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
            $67,700**Drafters**
            Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings.
            Associate's degree
            $62,530**Geographers**
            Geographers study the Earth and the distribution of its land, features, and inhabitants.
            Bachelor's degree
            $90,880**Hydrologists**
            Hydrologists study how water moves across and through the Earth’s crust.
            Bachelor's degree
            $88,770**Landscape Architects**
            Landscape architects design parks and other outdoor spaces.
            Bachelor's degree
            $79,320**Surveying and Mapping Technicians**
            Surveying and mapping technicians collect data and make maps of the Earth's surface.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $48,940**Urban and Regional Planners**
            Urban and regional planners develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities in cities, counties, metropolitan areas, and other jurisdictions.
            Master's degree
            $81,800
 Contacts for More Information
								
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 SurveyorsSurveyors
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Surveyors, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/surveyors.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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