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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.
Other titles employers use
Aerotriangulation Specialist · Geospatial Analyst · Mapping Editor · Mapping Technician · Photogrammetric Compilation Specialist · Photogrammetric Technician · Stereoplotter Operator · Survey Technician
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, organizing and analytical work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Active Listening
- Speaking
Subjects to know
- Computers and Electronics
- Geography
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Engineering and Technology
Useful strengths
- Written Comprehension
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Inductive Reasoning
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.1 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.9 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.6 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.7 | Some of the day |
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Development environment software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Web platform development software
- Geographic information system
- Electronic mail software
- Word processing software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 10,860
- Job openings each year
- 1,330
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 16.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 10,860 | 1,330 | 16.6% |
| Florida | 6,160 | 750 | 16.4% |
| California | 5,500 | 660 | 12.2% |
| North Carolina | 5,300 | 640 | 14.5% |
| Colorado | 4,050 | 500 | 17.1% |
| Georgia | 2,590 | 310 | 11.2% |
| Virginia | 2,420 | 280 | 1.7% |
| New York | 2,340 | 20 | 7.8% |
| Washington | 1,820 | 250 | 15.2% |
| South Carolina | 1,790 | 220 | 10.5% |
| Ohio | 1,610 | 190 | 1.9% |
| Tennessee | 1,420 | 170 | 6.8% |
| Michigan | 1,320 | 160 | 2.3% |
| Oklahoma | 1,280 | 150 | 6.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 1,280 | 150 | 4.1% |
| Arizona | 1,220 | 150 | 9.9% |
| Alabama | 1,180 | 140 | 2.6% |
| New Jersey | 1,170 | 140 | 2.6% |
| Minnesota | 1,130 | 130 | 4.6% |
| Illinois | 1,090 | 130 | 2.8% |
| Louisiana | 1,090 | 130 | 3.8% |
| Indiana | 1,050 | 120 | 7.1% |
| Maryland | 980 | 120 | 8.9% |
| Utah | 940 | 120 | 32.4% |
| Oregon | 910 | 110 | 13.8% |
| Arkansas | 880 | 110 | 4.8% |
| Kentucky | 840 | 100 | 3.7% |
| Wisconsin | 840 | 100 | 15.1% |
| Missouri | 770 | 90 | 6.9% |
| Mississippi | 720 | 90 | 7.5% |
| West Virginia | 670 | 80 | 1.5% |
| Kansas | 660 | 80 | 4.8% |
| New Mexico | 540 | 60 | 10.2% |
| Connecticut | 500 | 60 | 8.7% |
| Montana | 500 | 60 | 13.6% |
| Nevada | 470 | 60 | 11.9% |
| Idaho | 440 | 50 | 10.0% |
| Nebraska | 440 | 50 | 4.8% |
| Iowa | 390 | 50 | 8.3% |
| Maine | 350 | 40 | 2.9% |
| New Hampshire | 340 | 40 | 13.3% |
| Massachusetts | 310 | 40 | 3.3% |
| Puerto Rico | 290 | 40 | 11.5% |
| Alaska | 220 | 30 | 22.2% |
| South Dakota | 200 | 20 | 17.6% |
| Wyoming | 200 | 30 | 17.6% |
| Delaware | 170 | 20 | — |
| Vermont | 140 | 20 | 16.7% |
| North Dakota | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Guam | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Rhode Island | 60 | 10 | — |
| Virgin Islands | 20 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
- Degrees each year
- 114
- Admit rate
- 64%
- Annual cost after aid
- —
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
- Degrees each year
- 86
- Admit rate
- 43%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
University of California-Santa Barbara
- Degrees each year
- 81
- Admit rate
- 28%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
University of California-Los Angeles
- Degrees each year
- 62
- Admit rate
- 9%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
James Madison University
- Degrees each year
- 61
- Admit rate
- 76%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Degrees each year
- 53
- Admit rate
- 43%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
Texas State University
- Degrees each year
- 49
- Admit rate
- 89%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
- Degrees each year
- 48
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000