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

Surveying and Mapping Technicians Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			surveying and mapping technicians imageSurveying and mapping technicians collect data and make maps of the Earth’s surface.							
						Quick Facts:     Surveying and Mapping Technicians2023     Median Pay
            						$48,940     per year
										$23.53     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    High school diploma or equivalentWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Moderate-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    64,200Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    3% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    2,100What Surveying and Mapping Technicians Do
                                                
                        
                        
Surveying and mapping technicians collect data and make maps of the Earth's surface.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Although they spend some time in an office setting, surveying and mapping technicians may work outdoors in all types of weather to conduct fieldwork. Most surveying and mapping technicians work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
            
                                                How to Become a Surveying or Mapping Technician
                                                
                        
Surveying and mapping technicians typically need a high school diploma. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have additional education or have experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or other technology.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for surveying and mapping technicians was $48,940 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of surveying and mapping technicians is projected to grow							 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 7,800 openings for surveying and mapping technicians 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 surveying and mapping technicians.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of surveying and mapping technicians with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about surveying and mapping technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Surveying and Mapping Technicians Do 
            

			Surveying and mapping techniciansSurveying technicians operate surveying instruments, such as electronic distance-measuring equipment.			
Surveying and mapping technicians collect data and make maps of the Earth’s surface. They may calculate mapmaking information and create maps from surveying notes, satellite data, or other sources to show features such as topography and boundaries. They assist surveyors and cartographers and photogrammetrists.
Duties
Surveying and mapping technicians typically do the following:
Visit sites to record survey measurements and other descriptive data
Search for previous survey markers or set out new markers
Operate surveying instruments, such as electronic distance-measuring equipment
Enter the data from surveying instruments into computers
Select, edit, and process images collected from databases to create new maps or to update existing maps
Assist photogrammetrists by laying out aerial photographs in sequence to identify areas not captured by aerial photographySurveying and mapping technicians help surveyors in the field. They do many of the activities related to obtaining information for mapmaking. For example, they may clear brush from the survey line or use drones to take photos.
Survey and mapping technicians also help to process the data collected. For example, they may calculate measurements, including angles and elevations, gathered during a survey. They combine data from Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, images, notes, and other sources to complete or update maps and surveys. They may use Computer Aided Design (CAD) software in their work.
*GIS technicians* use GIS technology to assemble, integrate, and display data about a particular location in a digital format. In addition, GIS technicians maintain and update databases for GIS devices.
 Work Environment
			Surveying and mapping techniciansSurveying technicians visit sites to take measurements of the land.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Surveying and mapping technicians held about 64,200 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of surveying and mapping technicians were as follows:
        Architectural, engineering, and related services
                57%Self-employed workers
                10Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                9Other support services
                5Utilities
                4Many surveying and mapping technicians work for firms that provide engineering, surveying, and mapping services on a contract basis. In local governments, these workers may be employed by highway or planning departments.
Although they spend some time in an office setting, surveying and mapping technicians may be outdoors in all types of weather while conducting fieldwork. They may need to travel long distances, which might include temporarily relocating near a survey site. Fieldwork may involve standing for long periods, walking considerable distances over harsh terrain, or climbing hills with heavy packs of equipment.
Work Schedules
Most surveying and mapping technicians work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
 How to Become a Surveying or Mapping Technician

			Surveying and mapping techniciansLearning to master the equipment is a big part of the training for surveying and mapping technicians.			
Surveying and mapping technicians typically need a high school diploma. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have additional education or have experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or other technology.
Education
Surveying and mapping technicians typically need a high school diploma, but some employers prefer to hire candidates who have some additional education. Postsecondary training or experience in GIS technology also may be helpful.
High school students interested in working as a surveying or mapping technician should take classes in mathematics, such as algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. High school or postsecondary coursework in drafting, mechanical drawing, and computer science also may be useful.
Training
Surveying and mapping technicians often learn on the job under the supervision of lead staff, including surveyor or cartographers and photogrammetrists. For example, surveying technicians may begin with simple tasks, such as placing markers on land and entering data into computers, and eventually help with activities such as deciding where and how to measure the land. Mapping technicians receive instruction in how maps are created and stored in databases.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Optional certification may help surveying and mapping technicians demonstrate competency in a relevant specialty. For example, the National Society of Professional Surveyors offers the Certified Survey Technician credential, and the GIS Certification Institute offers a GIS Professional certification.
Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a valid driver’s license.
Advancement
Although licensing is not required for these workers, surveying technicians with many years of experience and formal training in surveying may be able to become licensed surveyors. Mapping technicians who have additional education or experience may be able to advance to cartography or photogrammetry positions.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.***Surveying and mapping technicians must be able to understand and follow instructions from other team members, such as when conducting fieldwork.
***Decision-making skills.*** Surveying and mapping technicians must be able to exercise some independent judgment in the field or when selecting information to integrate into mapping and other materials.
***Detail oriented.*** Surveying and mapping technicians must be precise and accurate in their work, such as when assisting with fieldwork or making calculations.
***Physical stamina.*** Surveying and mapping technicians may work outdoors, often in rugged terrain. They must be able to carry equipment and to stand for much of the day.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Surveying and mapping technicians must be able to identify and fix their equipment. They also must note potential problems with the day’s work plan.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Surveying and Mapping TechniciansMedian annual wages, May 2023Drafters, engineering technicians, and mapping technicians$63,100  Surveying and mapping technicians$48,940  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 surveying and mapping technicians was $48,940 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 $35,080, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $79,150.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for surveying and mapping technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Utilities
                $74,400Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                58,190Architectural, engineering, and related services
                47,910Other support services
                45,810Most surveying and mapping technicians work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Surveying and Mapping TechniciansPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Surveying and mapping technicians3%  Total, all occupations3%  Drafters, engineering technicians, and mapping technicians1%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of surveying and mapping technicians is projected to grow				 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 7,800 openings for surveying and mapping technicians 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
	
			
Increased demand for map information is expected to require surveying and mapping technicians to gather and prepare related data, even as drones and other advancements make workers more efficient and limit projected employment growth.
			

                        Employment projections data for     surveying and mapping technicians, 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**Surveying and mapping technicians**
			17-3031
			64,200
			66,300
			3
			2,100
			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. Surveying and mapping technicians **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 surveying and mapping technicians. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Architects**
            Architects plan and design houses, factories, office buildings, and other structures.
            Bachelor's degree
            $93,310**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**Drafters**
            Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings.
            Associate's degree
            $62,530**Landscape Architects**
            Landscape architects design parks and other outdoor spaces.
            Bachelor's degree
            $79,320**Surveyors**
            Surveyors make precise measurements to determine property boundaries.
            Bachelor's degree
            $68,540**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**Geological and Hydrologic Technicians**
            Geological and hydrologic technicians support scientists and engineers in exploring, extracting, and monitoring natural resources.
            Associate's degree
            $53,440**Geographers**
            Geographers study the Earth and the distribution of its land, features, and inhabitants.
            Bachelor's degree
            $90,880
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information on certification in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), visit
GIS Certification Institute
For more information about career opportunities and the surveying technician certification program, visit
National Society of Professional Surveyors


                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Surveying and Mapping Technicians
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Surveying and Mapping Technicians, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/surveying-and-mapping-technicians.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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