Life As a Surveying Technician
Occupation Description Adjust and operate surveying instruments, such as the theodolite and electronic distance-measuring equipment, and compile notes, make sketches and enter data into computers.
A Day in the Life of a Surveying Technician
- Provide assistance in the development of methods and procedures for conducting field surveys.
- Collect information needed to carry out new surveys, using source maps, previous survey data, photographs, computer records, and other relevant information.
- Perform manual labor, such as cutting brush for lines, carrying stakes, rebar, and other heavy items, and stacking rods.
- Perform calculations to determine earth curvature corrections, atmospheric impacts on measurements, traverse closures and adjustments, azimuths, level runs, and placement of markers.
- Set out and recover stakes, marks, and other monumentation.
- Compare survey computations with applicable standards to determine adequacy of data.
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What a Surveying Technician Should Know
Surveying Technicians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Chain Carrier
- Instrument Operator
- Ax Survey Worker
- Land Survey Technician
- Survey Rodman
Job Opportunities for Surveying Technicians
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 60,200 jobs in the United States for Surveying Technician. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 6,400 new jobs for Surveying Technician by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 7,200 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Surveying Technician are North Dakota, Utah, and Texas. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maine, or Washington. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Surveying Technician
Surveying Technicians make between $27,360 and $74,110 a year.
Surveying Technicians who work in California, Alaska, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Surveying Technicians make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $42,850 |
| Alaska | $59,850 |
| Arizona | $53,730 |
| Arkansas | $43,000 |
| California | $69,910 |
| Colorado | $52,360 |
| Connecticut | $58,360 |
| Delaware | $42,010 |
| Florida | $40,900 |
| Georgia | $42,180 |
| Hawaii | $48,300 |
| Idaho | $45,090 |
| Illinois | $55,410 |
| Indiana | $41,030 |
| Iowa | $48,590 |
| Kansas | $43,350 |
| Kentucky | $38,960 |
| Louisiana | $44,540 |
| Maine | $43,640 |
| Maryland | $49,820 |
| Massachusetts | $59,320 |
| Michigan | $38,070 |
| Minnesota | $55,170 |
| Mississippi | $43,030 |
| Missouri | $42,560 |
| Montana | $49,120 |
| Nebraska | $45,530 |
| Nevada | $51,400 |
| New Hampshire | $48,300 |
| New Jersey | $49,800 |
| New Mexico | $47,440 |
| New York | $52,470 |
| North Carolina | $43,800 |
| North Dakota | $51,200 |
| Ohio | $44,280 |
| Oklahoma | $45,870 |
| Oregon | $54,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,600 |
| Rhode Island | $53,980 |
| South Carolina | $38,250 |
| South Dakota | $39,180 |
| Tennessee | $46,020 |
| Texas | $42,740 |
| Utah | $51,090 |
| Vermont | $51,840 |
| Virginia | $47,570 |
| Washington | $51,100 |
| West Virginia | $42,750 |
| Wisconsin | $43,500 |
| Wyoming | $47,870 |
What Tools do Surveying Technicians Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Surveying Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Spreadsheet software
- Database software
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Bentley MicroStation
- ESRI ArcView
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
- ESRI ArcInfo
- Geomechanical design analysis GDA software
- ESRI ArcGIS software
Becoming a Surveying Technician
What education is needed to be a Surveying Technician?
What work experience do I need to become a Surveying Technician?
Where Surveying Technicians Work
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Career changers with experience as a Surveying Technician sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
- Mapping Technicians
- Log Graders and Scalers
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers
- Civil Drafters
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion Picture
- Civil Engineering Technicians
References:
Image Credit: Mike1979 Russia via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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