What You Need to Know About Surveying Technicians

Example of a Surveying Technician Job Adjust and operate surveying instruments, such as the theodolite and electronic distance-measuring equipment, and compile notes, make sketches and enter data into computers.

Surveying Technician Responsibilities

• Operate and manage land-information computer systems, performing tasks such as storing data, making inquiries, and producing plots and reports.
• Perform calculations to determine earth curvature corrections, atmospheric impacts on measurements, traverse closures and adjustments, azimuths, level runs, and placement of markers.
• Collect information needed to carry out new surveys, using source maps, previous survey data, photographs, computer records, and other relevant information.
• Place and hold measuring tapes when electronic distance-measuring equipment is not used.
• Adjust and operate surveying instruments such as prisms, theodolites, and electronic distance-measuring equipment.
• Lay out grids, and determine horizontal and vertical controls.

Surveying Technician Needed Skills

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.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Types of Surveying Technician Jobs

• Levelman
• Surveyor Instrument Assistant
• Compass Operator
• Instrumentation Technician
• Survey Instrument Person

Surveying Technician Job Outlook

There were about 60,200 jobs for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in 2016 (in the United States).

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.6% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 6,400 new jobs for Surveying Technicians 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 and Mapping Technicians are Texas, Florida, and North Carolina.

Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Vermont, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

How Much Does a Surveying Technician Make?

The average yearly salary of a Surveying Technician ranges between $27,360 and $74,110. A Surveying Technician median salary is $44,380.

How much do Surveying and Mapping Technicians make in each U.S. state?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
California	$69,910
Alaska	$59,850
Massachusetts	$59,320
Connecticut	$58,360
Illinois	$55,410
Minnesota	$55,170
Oregon	$54,570
Rhode Island	$53,980
Arizona	$53,730
New York	$52,470
Colorado	$52,360
Vermont	$51,840
Nevada	$51,400
North Dakota	$51,200
Washington	$51,100
Utah	$51,090
Maryland	$49,820
New Jersey	$49,800
Montana	$49,120
Iowa	$48,590
New Hampshire	$48,300
Hawaii	$48,300
Wyoming	$47,870
Pennsylvania	$47,600
Virginia	$47,570
New Mexico	$47,440
Tennessee	$46,020
Oklahoma	$45,870
Nebraska	$45,530
Idaho	$45,090
Louisiana	$44,540
Ohio	$44,280
North Carolina	$43,800
Maine	$43,640
Wisconsin	$43,500
Kansas	$43,350
Mississippi	$43,030
Arkansas	$43,000
Alabama	$42,850
West Virginia	$42,750
Texas	$42,740
Missouri	$42,560
Georgia	$42,180
Delaware	$42,010
Indiana	$41,030
Florida	$40,900
South Dakota	$39,180
Kentucky	$38,960
South Carolina	$38,250
Michigan	$38,070

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 Word
• TRS Software TomCADD
• Computer aided design CAD software
• Autodesk CAiCE Visual Transportation
• Tripod Data Systems Foresight
• Trimble Terramodel
• MENSI 3Dipsos
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• ESRI ArcGIS software
• Computer aided design and drafting software CADD

Where Surveying Technicians Are Employed

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those who work as Surveying Technicians sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

• Civil Engineering Technicians
• Mapping Technicians
• Power Distributors and Dispatchers

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons