Surveyors
Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed
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.
Median pay: $75,440/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +4.4% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.
About 3,900 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• Direct or conduct surveys to establish legal boundaries for properties, based on legal deeds and titles.
• Prepare and maintain sketches, maps, reports, and legal descriptions of surveys to describe, certify, and assume liability for work performed.
• Write descriptions of property boundary surveys for use in deeds, leases, or other legal documents.
• 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.
• Record the results of surveys, including the shape, contour, location, elevation, and dimensions of land or land features.
• Prepare, or supervise preparation of, all data, charts, plots, maps, records, and documents related to surveys.
• Compute geodetic measurements and interpret survey data to determine positions, shapes, and elevations of geomorphic and topographic features.
What's the median pay for Surveyors?
The median pay for Surveyors is $75,440 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Surveyors?
Employment for Surveyors is projected to change +4.4% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.
What education is typically required for Surveyors?
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
How many job openings are there each year for Surveyors?
About 3,900 openings per year, on average, over the decade.