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Engineering

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.

Median salary

$51,940

Typical range

$37k – $81k

Job outlook

+5% (faster than average)

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: Associate degree

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Typical progression

  1. Junior Surveying and Mapping Technicians

    Entry / Junior

    $36,910

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Surveying and Mapping Technicians

    Established

    $51,940

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Surveying and Mapping Technicians

    Senior

    $66,405

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

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