Perform surveying and mapping duties, usually under the direction of an engineer, surveyor, cartographer, or photogrammetrist, to obtain data used for construction, mapmaking, boundary location, mining, or other purposes. May calculate mapmaking information and create maps from source data, such as surveying notes, aerial photography, satellite data, or other maps to show topographical features, political boundaries, and other features. May verify accuracy and completeness of maps.
Surveying and Mapping Technicians
SOC: 17-3031 O*NET: 17-3031.00
Median Salary
$51,940
per year
Job Growth
📈 4.5%
Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
7.6
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Job Zone 3
Perform surveying and mapping duties, usually under the direction of an engineer, surveyor, cartographer, or photogrammetrist, to obtain data used for construction, mapmaking, boundary location, mining, or other purposes. May calculate mapmaking information and create maps from source data, such as surveying notes, aerial photography, satellite data, or other maps to show topographical features, political boundaries, and other features. May verify accuracy and completeness of maps.
What does a Surveying and Mapping Technicians do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$36,910
10th percentile
Early Career
$44,180
25th percentile
Median
$51,940
50th percentile
Experienced
$65,240
75th percentile
Top Earners
$80,870
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$36,910
25th
$44,180
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$51,940
Mean: $56,890
75th
$65,240
90th
$80,870
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $43,960 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $44,180 and $65,240
- •Salary spread is 40.5% around the median, showing high variation
- •Total national employment: 56,720 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:59,400
Top Industries
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services67%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services67%
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services62.8%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+4.5%
Annual Openings:7,600
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)59,400
Current
2034 (Projected)62,100
+4.5%
+2,700
Employment Change
+4.5%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: As fast as average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Surveying and Mapping Technicians professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 50 locations
Texas
7,810 jobs$48,9301.53x
Florida
4,900 jobs$46,7401.36x
North Carolina
4,510 jobs$49,7802.51x
California
3,670 jobs$71,8600.55x
Colorado
2,440 jobs$58,3702.29x
Virginia
2,170 jobs$49,0401.45x
New York
1,900 jobs$57,9000.54x
Pennsylvania
1,560 jobs$56,4000.70x
Ohio
1,380 jobs$59,4000.68x
Tennessee
1,330 jobs$48,3201.11x
South Carolina
1,270 jobs$43,4101.52x
Alabama
1,210 jobs$46,2601.57x
Oklahoma
1,180 jobs$44,7201.89x
Washington
1,140 jobs$61,6600.87x
Illinois
1,130 jobs$58,1000.51x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Average growth expected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Reading Comprehension
100%
#2
Critical Thinking
94%
#3
Writing
86%
#4
Mathematics
80%
#5
Active Listening
74%
#6
Monitoring
66%
#7
Speaking
60%
#8
Complex Problem Solving
54%
#9
Active Learning
46%
#10
Coordination
40%
Skills Overview
Reading Comprehension
advanced5.0
100%
Critical Thinking
advanced4.7
94%
Writing
intermediate4.3
86%
Mathematics
intermediate4.0
80%
Active Listening
intermediate3.7
74%
Monitoring
intermediate3.3
66%
Speaking
intermediate3.0
60%
Complex Problem Solving
advanced2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Reading Comprehension
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Critical Thinking
advancedImportance94%
abilities
4.7/5.0
Writing
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Mathematics
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Active Listening
intermediateImportance74%
skills
3.7/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance66%
skills
3.3/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Complex Problem Solving
advancedImportance54%
abilities
2.7/5.0
Active Learning
basicImportance46%
abilities
2.3/5.0
Coordination
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Electrical Engineers100%
5 shared skills
Accountants and Auditors82%
5 shared skills
Precision Agriculture Technicians82%
5 shared skills
Sustainability Specialists82%
5 shared skills
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists82%
5 shared skills
Chemists82%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Writing
Learn on the Job:
- →Monitoring
- →Speaking
- →Complex Problem Solving
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Mathematics
- ✓Writing
- ✓Reading Comprehension
- ✓Critical Thinking
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Mathematics
- ★Writing
- ★Reading Comprehension
- ★Critical Thinking
- ★Active Listening
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Surveying and Mapping Technicians
Technology Intensity
Very High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires expert digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Advanced software proficiencySystem architecture understandingAutomation and scriptingEmerging technology adaptationTechnical problem-solving
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Autodesk AutoCAD
🔥 Hot TechAutodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
🔥 Hot TechBentley MicroStation
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Access
🔥 Hot TechStructured query language SQL
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Visual Basic
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft SharePoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechESRI ArcGIS software
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Illustrator
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Photoshop
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Autodesk AutoCAD
Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
Bentley MicroStation
Microsoft Access
Structured query language SQL
Microsoft Visual Basic
Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA
Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft Outlook
ESRI ArcGIS software
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏗️
Location
Varies
💪
Physical Demand
LOW
👥
Team Orientation
Varies
🤝
Customer Interaction
NONE
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in varies environments?
- •Can you meet low physical demands?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (12)Planning & Development (3)Management & Supervision (1)Analysis & Evaluation (2)Documentation & Record-Keeping (2)Operations & Execution (1)
1
Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Check all layers of maps to ensure accuracy, identifying and marking errors and making corrections.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Design or develop information databases that include geographic or topographic data.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development94% perform96%
4
Monitor mapping work or the updating of maps to ensure accuracy, inclusion of new or changed information, or compliance with rules and regulations.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Produce or update overlay maps to show information boundaries, water locations, or topographic features on various base maps or at different scales.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Determine scales, line sizes, or colors to be used for hard copies of computerized maps, using plotters.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Compile information necessary to stake projects for construction, using engineering plans.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development82% perform88%
8
Identify and compile database information to create requested maps.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Operate and manage land-information computer systems, performing tasks such as storing data, making inquiries, and producing plots and reports.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Management & Supervision76% perform84%
10
Compare survey computations with applicable standards to determine adequacy of data.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Surveying and Mapping Technicians
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Surveying and Mapping Technicians professionals typically have a RCI Holland code and highly value support
RRealistic
CConventional
IInvestigative
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Surveying and Mapping Technicians
Attention to Detail
CriticalAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.64
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.25
Cooperation
Very ImportantCooperation
Importance Level4.04
Analytical Thinking
Very ImportantAnalytical Thinking
Importance Level4.02
Integrity
Very ImportantIntegrity
Importance Level4.01
Independence
ImportantIndependence
Importance Level3.88
Complete Work Styles Profile
Attention to Detail
4.6
Dependability
4.3
Cooperation
4.0
Analytical Thinking
4.0
Integrity
4.0
Independence
3.9
Achievement/Effort
3.7
Persistence
3.6
Adaptability/Flexibility
3.6
Initiative
3.5
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Typical duration: Varies
Preparation Level
Job Zone 3
Medium Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience required
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Training:
Training of more than one year
💼 Experience Requirement
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience required
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Associate degree programs
- • Apprenticeships (1-2 years)
- • Vocational training with related experience
3
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Associate degree programsApprenticeships (1-2 years)Vocational training with related experience
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Explore educational programs that can help you become a Surveying and Mapping Technicians.
Browse Training Programs →