How to Become a Surveyor
Measure and map land with precision instruments to establish the boundaries construction, mapping, and property law depend on. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $75,440 per year and about average projected job growth.
Median pay
$75,440/yr
Middle half
$58,170 to $98,130
Job growth
About average
Openings / yr
3,900
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Land Surveying
- GPS/GIS Tools
- Mathematics
- Attention to Detail
- Technical Writing
Helpful certifications
- FS/PS (Professional Surveyor licensure)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
17/100
Work-life balance
47/100
Stress level
61/100
Related careers
- Computer Hardware Engineer$161,740 median
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- Aerospace Engineer$134,960 median
- Nuclear Engineer$133,970 median
- Chemical Engineer$125,040 median
- Electrical Engineer$120,630 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Surveyor make?
The median pay for a Surveyor is $75,440 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $58,170 and $98,130 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Surveyor?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Surveying and Geomatics, Civil Engineering, Geography, and Urban Planning.
Is Surveyor a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is about average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 3,900 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Surveyor use most?
Common skills for this role are Land Surveying, GPS/GIS Tools, Mathematics, Attention to Detail, and Technical Writing.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).