JobAfterNext

Surveyors

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.

Wages

Median annual wage, U.S.$75,440
Employment, U.S.50,830
Median hourly wage$36.27
Annual wage percentiles, U.S., May 2025
10th25thMedian75th90th
$46,880$58,170$75,440$98,130$125,590
By state (50)
StateEmploymentMedian annualLocation quotient
Alabama910$66,8401.31
Alaska250$99,5502.35
Arizona1,360$77,4901.28
Arkansas550$51,8001.29
California4,520$105,3300.76
Colorado1,620$79,3101.72
Connecticut430$76,7300.77
Delaware120$82,8900.75
Florida4,000$65,4801.23
Georgia1,770$58,1001.11
Hawaii140$82,2000.69
Idaho250$73,9400.89
Illinois1,710$75,9800.86
Indiana870$80,5100.83
Iowa450$77,0900.88
Kansas350$75,8600.75
Kentucky670$71,8401.03
Louisiana1,460$63,1402.30
Maine270$83,2001.31
Maryland950$64,9101.06
Massachusetts1,290$94,5901.09
Michigan1,050$72,0800.73
Minnesota980$83,6201.02
Mississippi570$58,7201.50
Missouri830$62,1100.86
Montana350$84,6102.06
Nebraska430$68,0501.29
Nevada490$82,4600.97
New Hampshire280$65,1301.27
New Jersey900$77,1600.64
New Mexico290$74,2301.01
New York1,470$78,8700.46
North Carolina1,530$76,2100.94
North Dakota250$79,3601.75
Ohio1,300$70,6200.72
Oklahoma960$61,3001.72
Oregon530$97,0700.82
Pennsylvania1,610$75,9500.81
Rhode Island150$62,6700.90
South Carolina1,000$63,3001.33
South Dakota180$77,1901.21
Tennessee920$76,3400.86
Texas6,410$61,1501.39
Utah650$73,2301.14
Vermont$76,450
Virginia1,360$71,0701.01
Washington780$85,6100.67
West Virginia630$61,5202.76
Wisconsin610$79,6500.63
Wyoming240$81,2502.63

Similar occupations

Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.

#OccupationJob ZoneSimilarity
1Surveying and Mapping Technicians30.975
2Geodetic Surveyors40.968
3Energy Auditors30.953
4Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians30.950
5Traffic Technicians30.941
6Non-Destructive Testing Specialists1-20.940
7Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians40.940
8Solar Energy Systems Engineers40.940
9Architectural and Engineering Managers50.939
10Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate40.938

One skill away

Among the 50 occupations most similar to Surveyors, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.

OccupationSkill to buildLevel gapSimilarity
Geodetic SurveyorsMathematics0.760.968
Energy AuditorsSystems Evaluation0.870.953
Solar Energy Systems EngineersScience1.130.940
Government Property Inspectors and InvestigatorsJudgment and Decision Making0.880.931
Solar Energy Installation ManagersNegotiation1.120.920
Facilities ManagersNegotiation1.000.918

Software to learn next

Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Surveyors, excluding software Surveyors already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.

SoftwareSimilar jobs using itLift
Microsoft Access18 of 202.2x
Traverse PC3 of 2046.2x
Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE4 of 2012.3x
C++8 of 203.4x
The MathWorks MATLAB8 of 203.3x
National Instruments LabVIEW6 of 204.5x
Python8 of 202.8x
Microsoft PowerPoint20 of 201.5x
Oracle Primavera Systems3 of 2010.7x
Database software8 of 202.2x

Skills

From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.

SkillTypeImportanceLevel
MathematicsEssential skill 4.00 4.12
Reading ComprehensionEssential skill 3.88 4.12
Critical ThinkingEssential skill 3.75 4.00
WritingEssential skill 3.75 4.00
SpeakingEssential skill 3.62 3.88
Active ListeningEssential skill 3.50 3.88
CoordinationTransferable skill 3.50 3.62
Active LearningEssential skill 3.25 3.38
Judgment and Decision MakingTransferable skill 3.25 3.12
Learning StrategiesEssential skill 3.12 3.50
Time ManagementTransferable skill 3.12 3.50
Complex Problem SolvingTransferable skill 3.12 3.25
InstructingTransferable skill 3.00 3.50
MonitoringEssential skill 3.00 3.38
Social PerceptivenessTransferable skill 3.00 3.00
Systems AnalysisTransferable skill 3.00 3.00
Management of Personnel ResourcesTransferable skill 2.88 3.50
Operation and ControlTransferable skill 2.75 2.88
Service OrientationTransferable skill 2.75 2.88
Systems EvaluationTransferable skill 2.75 2.88
Operations MonitoringTransferable skill 2.75 2.75
ScienceEssential skill 2.62 2.75
PersuasionTransferable skill 2.50 2.75
Quality Control AnalysisTransferable skill 2.50 2.62
NegotiationTransferable skill 2.50 2.50
Equipment SelectionTransferable skill 2.12 2.12
Equipment MaintenanceTransferable skill 1.88 1.62
Management of Material ResourcesTransferable skill 1.88 1.62
TroubleshootingTransferable skill 1.88 1.62
Operations AnalysisTransferable skill 1.88 1.50
RepairingTransferable skill 1.88 1.38
Management of Financial ResourcesTransferable skill 1.75 1.38
Technology DesignTransferable skill 1.62 0.62
ProgrammingTransferable skill 1.38 0.75
InstallationTransferable skill 1.00not rated
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
Knowledge
NameImportanceLevel
Mathematics 4.70 5.50
Engineering and Technology 4.25 4.75
Geography 4.05 4.95
Computers and Electronics 3.95 5.00
Design 3.70 4.60
Customer and Personal Service 3.70 4.35
Building and Construction 3.68 4.30
Administration and Management 3.65 4.55
English Language 3.47 3.80
Law and Government 3.45 4.10
Education and Training 3.35 4.74
Administrative 3.05 4.05
Personnel and Human Resources 3.05 3.60
Sales and Marketing 2.95 3.90
Public Safety and Security 2.95 3.05
Production and Processing 2.90 3.55
Economics and Accounting 2.85 2.85
Transportation 2.53 2.63
Physics 2.40 2.70
History and Archeology 2.40 2.25
Mechanical 2.21 2.50
Telecommunications 2.20 2.10
Communications and Media 2.05 1.90
Psychology 1.65 1.10
Biology 1.50 1.00
Chemistry 1.45 1.10
Sociology and Anthropology 1.37 0.74
Therapy and Counseling 1.25 0.70
Philosophy and Theology 1.15not rated
Medicine and Dentistry 1.11not rated
Foreign Language 1.10not rated
Food Production 1.05not rated
Fine Arts 1.00not rated
Abilities
NameImportanceLevel
Deductive Reasoning 4.00 4.12
Mathematical Reasoning 4.00 4.12
Written Comprehension 4.00 4.12
Inductive Reasoning 3.88 4.12
Written Expression 3.88 4.12
Near Vision 3.88 3.88
Number Facility 3.75 4.12
Oral Comprehension 3.75 4.12
Oral Expression 3.75 4.12
Far Vision 3.62 4.00
Information Ordering 3.62 4.00
Speech Clarity 3.62 3.62
Problem Sensitivity 3.62 3.38
Speech Recognition 3.62 3.38
Category Flexibility 3.12 3.75
Visualization 3.12 3.75
Flexibility of Closure 3.12 3.62
Spatial Orientation 3.12 3.38
Perceptual Speed 3.12 3.12
Speed of Closure 3.00 3.12
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.00 3.00
Depth Perception 3.00 3.00
Fluency of Ideas 3.00 3.00
Selective Attention 3.00 3.00
Control Precision 3.00 2.88
Finger Dexterity 3.00 2.88
Originality 2.88 3.00
Visual Color Discrimination 2.88 2.88
Manual Dexterity 2.88 2.75
Multilimb Coordination 2.75 2.88
Time Sharing 2.75 2.75
Memorization 2.62 2.75
Trunk Strength 2.50 2.50
Extent Flexibility 2.38 2.50
Stamina 2.12 2.12
Glare Sensitivity 2.12 2.00
Static Strength 2.12 2.00
Reaction Time 2.12 1.88
Auditory Attention 2.00 2.00
Gross Body Coordination 2.00 2.00
Wrist-Finger Speed 2.00 2.00
Dynamic Strength 2.00 1.75
Gross Body Equilibrium 1.88 1.75
Hearing Sensitivity 1.88 1.62
Peripheral Vision 1.88 1.00
Response Orientation 1.75 1.50
Rate Control 1.75 1.38
Explosive Strength 1.62 0.75
Speed of Limb Movement 1.62 0.75
Sound Localization 1.62 0.62
Night Vision 1.50 0.50
Dynamic Flexibility 1.00not rated

Software used

Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.

All 47
  • HYPACK HYSWEEP
  • HYPACK MAX
  • Latitude software
  • MicroSurvey FieldGenius
  • MicroSurveyCAD
  • NOAA Shoreline Data Explorer
  • PC-Mapper software
  • Project analysis and costing software
  • Project data integration software
  • Sharetech Tabs Plus
  • Sokkia Imap
  • Sokkia Spectrum Survey Suite
  • Surface modeling software
  • Survey software
  • Topographic database software
  • Trimble HYDROpro
  • Trimble Terramodel

Where it concentrates

Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.

Metro areaEmploymentLocation quotientMedian annual
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA1103.96$63,800
Lafayette, LA2203.76$49,820
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX1803.45$66,340
Anchorage, AK1703.01$101,820
Tyler, TX1102.80$56,810
Corpus Christi, TX1802.78$61,650
Baton Rouge, LA3702.77$69,710
Longview, TX1002.61$57,670
Oklahoma City, OK5002.24$63,880
New Orleans-Metairie, LA3102.16$79,230

More metros, other thresholds