Salary for a Surveyor & Mapping Scientist

Surveyors and mapping scientists measure a land surface to determine official boundaries. These professionals work for government agencies, architectural organizations and other employers who prepare leases and deeds to determine where property lines begin and end. Some of these professionals help in mapping land masses and areas for exploration.

Qualifications and Salary

Although there are no standard educational requirements for surveyors, many employers require a bachelor’s degree in surveying, geography or an engineering discipline such as civil engineering. All states require surveyors to obtain a license to practice professionally, which typically requires passing the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying exams. The average salary for this occupation was $58,140 per year in 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Percentiles

Salaries can vary based on factors such as the employer type and type of surveying performed. Some surveyors travel extensively or specialize in surveying areas such as bodies of water or large surfaces using satellite technology. Salaries ranged from $30,800 to $89,930 per year, which includes the bureau’s 10th through 90th percentiles. The 50th percentile of surveyors and mapping scientists earned $54,880 per year. The 25th percentile earned $40,260 per year and the 75th percentile earned $72,360 per year.

Industries

Among the industries that employ surveyors and mapping scientists, federal government agencies paid the highest salary, averaging $82,230 per year in 2010. Organizations that offer architectural and engineering services paid an average salary of $56,700 per year, and nonresidential building construction organizations paid an average annual salary of $59,460. The land subdivision industry paid an average salary of $58,140 per year, while the coal mining industry paid an average salary of $47,050 per year.

Job Outlook

Employment of surveyors and related occupations is expected to increase 19 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the BLS. Along with the growing awareness to improve infrastructure in the United States, new technology used to create maps and applications will also increase opportunities for surveying professionals. Opportunities will be best for those who obtain a bachelor’s degree and skills using emerging technology for geographical mapping.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Surveyors, Cartographers, Photogrammetrists, and Surveying and Mapping Technicians
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Surveyors Ocucpational Employment and Wages, May 2010
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Classification System Manual; A063 Survyors and Mapping Scientists