How much does a surveyor make?

The median pay is $36.27 per hour — roughly $75,500 a year, with the real range running from about $22.54/hr (10th percentile) to $60.38/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a surveyor?

The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).

What does a surveyor actually do all day?

Direct or conduct surveys to establish legal boundaries for properties, based on legal deeds and titles. Prepare and maintain sketches, maps, reports, and legal descriptions of surveys to describe, certify, and assume liability for work performed. Write descriptions of property boundary surveys for use in deeds, leases, or other legal documents.

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Surveyors

Make exact measurements and determine property boundaries. Provide data relevant to the shape, contour, gravitation, location, elevation, or dimension of land or land features on or near the earth's surface for engineering, mapmaking, mining, land evaluation, construction, and other purposes.

What it pays
Surveyors earn a median of $36.27/hr — about $75,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $22.54/hr; the top 10% earn $60.38/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

Direct or conduct surveys to establish legal boundaries for properties, based on legal deeds and titles.
Prepare and maintain sketches, maps, reports, and legal descriptions of surveys to describe, certify, and assume liability for work performed.
Write descriptions of property boundary surveys for use in deeds, leases, or other legal documents.
Verify the accuracy of survey data, including measurements and calculations conducted at survey sites.
Search legal records, survey records, and land titles to obtain information about property boundaries in areas to be surveyed.
Record the results of surveys, including the shape, contour, location, elevation, and dimensions of land or land features.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the work happens outdoors; much of the day is spent working solo; precision matters — small details carry weight. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 4.3% of surveyors are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are organized and detail-focused, hands-on and analytical.

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Quick questions

How much does a surveyor make?: The median pay is $36.27 per hour — roughly $75,500 a year, with the real range running from about $22.54/hr (10th percentile) to $60.38/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a surveyor?: The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).
What does a surveyor actually do all day?: Direct or conduct surveys to establish legal boundaries for properties, based on legal deeds and titles. Prepare and maintain sketches, maps, reports, and legal descriptions of surveys to describe, certify, and assume liability for work performed. Write descriptions of property boundary surveys for use in deeds, leases, or other legal documents.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

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