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Career

Geodetic Surveyors

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeLower pressure

What they do

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

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $75,440 Median per year · $36.27/hr Most earn $46,880–$125,590

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Provide training and interpretation in the use of methods or procedures for observing and checking controls for geodetic and plane coordinates.
  • Plan or direct the work of geodetic surveying staff, providing technical consultation as needed.
  • 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.
  • Verify the mathematical correctness of newly collected survey data.
  • Distribute compiled geodetic data to government agencies or the general public.

Job outlook

United States
6% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 3,100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Engineering services34.2%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals5.2%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals3.1%
  • Highway, street, and bridge construction2.1%
  • Self-employed (their own business)2.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Geodetic surveying usually requires a bachelor's degree, and most people spend about 1 to 2 years in an entry-level surveying or mapping job before taking on this role. It's not a job you can usually start straight out of high school or a short program.

  1. Bachelor's degree in geomatics, surveying, geography, or civil engineering

    4 years

    You learn the math, geodesy, and mapping tools (GNSS, GIS, LIDAR) that this job depends on, and summer internships help you get hands-on experience.

  2. Surveying and Mapping Technician

    1-2 years

    You collect field measurements, run GPS and total station equipment, and process survey data under experienced surveyors, building the practical skills employers look for.

  3. Geodetic Surveyor

    Ongoing

    You measure large areas of the Earth's surface using satellite observations, GNSS, and LIDAR to create precise reference data for mapping, engineering, and land projects.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Geodetic Surveyor

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take the lead on larger or more complex projects, check the work of others, and handle client or agency communication.

  2. Survey Project Manager

    5-8 years of experience first

    You plan schedules and budgets, manage teams of surveyors and technicians, and oversee several projects at once, which usually means less time in the field.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and physicsTrigonometry, geometry, and physics build the foundation for the measurement and calculation work in surveying.
  • Take a drafting, CAD, or computer science classMapping and survey data are handled with digital tools, so comfort with computers gives you a head start.
  • Join a robotics, engineering, or science clubTeamwork on building and testing projects shows you enjoy measuring and problem-solving in real settings.
  • Get a summer or part-time job outdoors or in constructionField work teaches you to handle equipment, work in weather, and follow careful measurement steps.
  • Volunteer with a local parks, land trust, or mapping projectHelping with trail mapping or local data collection shows you what mapping work looks like day to day.

In college

  • Major in geomatics, surveying, geography, or civil engineeringThese majors cover geodesy, GNSS, and mapping, which are the core skills this career needs.
  • Take GIS, remote sensing, and statistics coursesWorking with spatial data and checking measurement accuracy are everyday tasks in geodetic work.
  • Get a summer internship or co-op with a surveying, mapping, or engineering firmField experience with real equipment is what most employers look for when hiring new graduates.
  • Work a campus job in a GIS lab, library map collection, or facilities officeHands-on mapping or data work builds skills and a reference for your resume.
  • Join a student chapter of a surveying or geospatial group, if your school has oneMeeting professionals and attending events helps you learn about the field and find internships.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for a surveying or geomatics program that includes field camp or hands-on GPS and mapping practice, since employers value real equipment experience.
  • Learn basic GIS software and coding (such as Python) early, because data processing is a large part of modern geodetic work.
  • Ask about state licensing requirements early on; some surveying work requires it, and knowing the path helps you plan your experience.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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