Surveying Technician
Impact: Infrastructure maintenance, Public safety, Essential services
Assist surveyors in measuring and mapping land, collecting data using specialized instruments.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Minimal
- Team vs solo
- 50% Team / 50% Solo
- Client facing
- Sometimes
- Impact visibility
- Moderate
- Travel
- Limited local travel
- Schedule flexibility
- Structured
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $70,000
- Entry-level
- $40,000 to $60,000
- Senior
- $90,000+
- Growth by 2033
- 5% (average)
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- High
- Salary growth potential
- Moderate: 50 to 70% growth from entry to senior
- Typical student debt
- $10,000 to $30,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Tool Operation
- Blueprint Reading
- Equipment Maintenance
- Welding
- Electrical Systems
- Safety Protocols
Soft skills
- Problem-solving
- Attention to Detail
- Safety Consciousness
- Manual Dexterity
- Adaptability
- Teamwork
Technical complexity: Moderate
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Certificate or Vocational Training
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 2 to 4 years
- Years to senior
- 5 to 8 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Apprentice
- Journeyman
- Master Tradesperson
- Supervisor
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 10% (low risk due to hands-on problem-solving and specialized skills)
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 7/10
- Meaning
- 7.5/10
- Work-life balance
- 7/10
- Prestige
- 6.5/10
- Social perception
- Moderate