Architecture and Engineering · Holland code RIC
Geodetic Surveyors
Measure large areas of the Earth's surface using satellite observations, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), light detection and ranging (LIDAR), or related sources.
Also called: Geodesist, Geodetic Advisor, Geodetic Surveyor, Land Surveyor, Geodetic Engineer, Geodetic Survey Director, Licensed Land Surveyor.
O*NET 17-1022.01
At a glance
- US median annual pay
- $75,440
- Middle half earn $58,170 to $98,130. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
- Most common education
- Bachelor's Degree
- 81% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
- Preparation needed
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Considerable preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.
- US employment outlook, 2024 to 2034
- +4% · As fast as average
- 56,100 jobs in 2024, projected 58,600. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, which groups this with similar roles as "Surveyors".
What the work involves
The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.
- 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.
Skills and knowledge it leans on
Skills
- Mathematics4.1 / 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0 / 5
- Active Listening3.9 / 5
- Critical Thinking3.9 / 5
- Writing3.6 / 5
- Speaking3.4 / 5
Knowledge areas
- Mathematics4.8 / 5
- Engineering and Technology4.0 / 5
- Geography3.8 / 5
- Computers and Electronics3.8 / 5
- English Language3.7 / 5
- Physics3.5 / 5
Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.
Who tends to enjoy it
How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.
- Realistic75
- Investigative73
- Artistic9
- Social12
- Enterprising10
- Conventional72
The same work abroad
Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.
European occupation titles (ESCO)
- cadastral technician · DE Katasteringenieur/Katasteringenieurin · FR géomètre du cadastre
- land surveyor · DE Vermessungsingenieur/Vermessungsingenieurin · FR géomètre-topographe
- hydrographic surveyor · DE Hydrograf/Hydrografin · FR hydrographe
- mine surveyor · DE Markscheider/Markscheiderin · FR géomètre minier/géomètre minière
- geographer · DE Geograf/Geografin · FR géographe
- soil surveying technician · DE Bodenprüftechniker/Bodenprüftechnikerin · FR technicien pédologue/technicienne pédologue
Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)
- Chartered surveyors (2454)67,300 employed
- Building and civil engineering technicians (3114)20,100 employed
- Laboratory technicians (3111)51,100 employed
Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.
Pay across Europe, for the whole group
Median annual earnings of all employees in “Professionals”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.
| Country | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Belgium | €61,714 |
| Germany | €59,529 |
| Ireland | €56,877 |
| Austria | €55,374 |
| Netherlands | €53,595 |
| Sweden | €43,567 |
| France | €41,515 |
| Spain | €35,735 |
| Italy | €33,649 |
| Portugal | €26,072 |
| Poland | €14,380 |
Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.
Exposure to AI
This occupation sits in the middle third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of +0.15. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.
Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.
Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (17-1022).
Related careers
Is it a fit for you?
Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.
Take the career interests test