Surveying Technicians: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Stan T.Career, Overview

Surveying Technicians

Surveying Technicians adjust and operate surveying instruments, such as the theodolite and electronic distance-measuring equipment, and compile notes, make sketches and enter data into computers.

Salary
$49770
Becoming One
Medium
Education
Associate's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job description

Surveying Technicians adjust and operate surveying instruments, such as the theodolite and electronic distance-measuring equipment, and compile notes, make sketches and enter data into computers.

  • Search for section corners, property irons, and survey points.
  • Adjust and operate surveying instruments such as prisms, theodolites, and electronic distance-measuring equipment.
  • Conduct surveys to ascertain the locations of natural features and man-made structures on the Earth’s surface, underground, and underwater, using electronic distance-measuring equipment and other surveying instruments.
  • Collect information needed to carry out new surveys, using source maps, previous survey data, photographs, computer records, and other relevant information.
Read more about what does a Surveying Technician really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$47690 per year

Average hourly wage
$23 per hour


Surveying Technicians with little to no experience tend to make between $27360 and $34300 while the more experienced ones can earn over $58250 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
CA $34 $69,910
AK $29 $59,850
MA $29 $59,320
CT $28 $58,360
IL $27 $55,410

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Surveying Technician is to move to a higher paying state like CA. Right now, the highest paying states for Surveying Technicians are CA, AK, MA, CT and IL.

However, a higher pay at CA doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at CA might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Surveying Technician is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
Associate’s degree

We asked other Surveying Technicians what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had an Associate’s Degree followed by a High School Diploma.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Surveying Technology/Surveying
Read more about how to become a Surveying Technician and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Surveying Technician.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes practical and hands-on work
Suitable for people who wants to work in a supportive work environment
This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors.
It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Normal working hours (40 hours per week)
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to help and teach others
Salary is below average

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
69%

Is this job meaningful
50%


69% of Surveying Technicians said they were satisfied with their job and 50% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Builders and The Organizers

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.



Learn more about Surveying Technicians

Summary (You are here)
Job Description
Salary
Requirements
Quiz

Related career information

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