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Career overview · SOC 17-3031

Surveying and Mapping Technicians

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.

Also called: Aerotriangulation Specialist · Geospatial Analyst · Mapping Editor · Mapping Technician · Photogrammetric Compilation Specialist · Photogrammetric Technician

Median pay (national)
$51,940
$36,910–$80,870 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
56,720
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+4.5%
~7,600 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for surveying and mapping technicians shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $80,870 versus $36,910 at the bottom 10% — 2.2x. The median of $51,940 leaves roughly 56% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +4.5% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 7,600 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 53 states with released data, Nevada pays the most for this role (median $75,660, +46% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $31,450 — a 141% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Writing as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D, Bentley MicroStation, ESRI ArcGIS software as in-demand technologies for this role.

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Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking
  • Writing
  • Mathematics
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Monitoring
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Science

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations.
  • Check all layers of maps to ensure accuracy, identifying and marking errors and making corrections.
  • Design or develop information databases that include geographic or topographic data.
  • Monitor mapping work or the updating of maps to ensure accuracy, inclusion of new or changed information, or compliance with rules and regulations.
  • Produce or update overlay maps to show information boundaries, water locations, or topographic features on various base maps or at different scales.
  • Determine scales, line sizes, or colors to be used for hard copies of computerized maps, using plotters.
  • Compile information necessary to stake projects for construction, using engineering plans.
  • Identify and compile database information to create requested maps.
  • Operate and manage land-information computer systems, performing tasks such as storing data, making inquiries, and producing plots and reports.
  • Compare survey computations with applicable standards to determine adequacy of data.

Tools & technology

  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Bentley MicroStation
  • ESRI ArcGIS software
  • Geographic information system GIS systems
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
  • JavaScript
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Visual Basic
  • Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA
  • Python

Knowledge areas

  • Computers and Electronics
  • Geography
  • Mathematics
  • English Language
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Design
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Administrative