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Geodetic Surveyors

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	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$72,740	4000	5.9%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$72,740

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

4000

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

5.9%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

Measure large areas of the Earth's surface using satellite observations, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), light detection and ranging (LIDAR), or related sources.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Up to and including 1 month

On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

Detailed Work Activities

Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality.
Train personnel on proper operational procedures.
Direct surveying activities.
Explain project details to the general public.
Update technical knowledge.
Verify mathematical calculations.
Gather physical survey data.
Prepare operational reports.
Maintain operational records or records systems.
Calculate geographic positions from survey data.
Calculate geographic positions from survey data.
Calculate geographic positions from survey data.
Analyze operational data to evaluate operations, processes or products.
Analyze physical, survey, or geographic data.
Survey land or bodies of water to measure or determine features.
Survey land or bodies of water to measure or determine features.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Analyze control or survey data to ensure adherence to project specifications or land survey standards.
Conduct surveys to determine exact positions, measurement of points, elevations, lines, areas, volumes, contours, or other features of land surfaces.
Calculate the exact horizontal and vertical position of points on the Earth's surface.
Maintain databases of geodetic and related information, including coordinate, descriptive, or quality assurance data.
Verify the mathematical correctness of newly collected survey data.
Compute horizontal and vertical coordinates of control networks, using direct leveling or other geodetic survey techniques, such as triangulation, trilateration, and traversing, to establish features of the Earth's surface.
Plan or direct the work of geodetic surveying staff, providing technical consultation as needed.
Assess the quality of control data to determine the need for additional survey data for engineering, construction, or other projects.
Distribute compiled geodetic data to government agencies or the general public.
Request additional survey data when field collection errors occur or engineering surveying specifications are not maintained.
Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in technology, equipment, or systems.
Provide training and interpretation in the use of methods or procedures for observing and checking controls for geodetic and plane coordinates.
Prepare progress or technical reports.
Review existing standards, controls, or equipment used, recommending changes or upgrades as needed.
Compute, retrace, or adjust existing surveys of features such as highway alignments, property boundaries, utilities, control and other surveys to match the ground elevation-dependent grids, geodetic grids, or property boundaries and to ensure accuracy and continuity of data used in engineering, surveying, or construction projects.
Determine orientation of tracts of land, including position, boundaries, size, and shape, using theodolites, electronic distance-measuring equipment, satellite-based positioning equipment, land information systems, or other geodetic survey equipment.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 28.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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