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Surveyors

$63.08K Median Salary 4K Job Openings (Annual Projection) 1.5% Job Growth

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About This Career

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.

Reported Job Titles

City Surveyor, County Surveyor, Land Surveyor, Licensed Land Surveyor, Mine Surveyor, Professional Land Surveyor, Registered Land Surveyor, Staff Land Surveyor, State Surveyor, Surveyor

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Skills You'll Need

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Abilities

Deductive Reasoning

Mathematical Reasoning

Written Comprehension

Inductive Reasoning

Near Vision

Written Expression

Number Facility

Oral Comprehension

Oral Expression

Far Vision

Information Ordering

Problem Sensitivity

Speech Clarity

Speech Recognition

Category Flexibility

Flexibility of Closure

Perceptual Speed

Spatial Orientation

Visualization

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Control Precision

Depth Perception

Finger Dexterity

Fluency of Ideas

Selective Attention

Speed of Closure

Knowledge

Mathematics

Engineering and Technology

Geography

Computers and Electronics

Customer and Personal Service

Design

Building and Construction

Administration and Management

English Language

Law and Government

Education and Training

Administrative

Personnel and Human Resources

Skills

Mathematics

Reading Comprehension

Critical Thinking

Writing

Speaking

Active Listening

Coordination

Active Learning

Judgment and Decision Making

Complex Problem Solving

Learning Strategies

Time Management

Instructing

Monitoring

Social Perceptiveness

Systems Analysis

Technology Skills

Computer aided design CAD software

Analytical or scientific software

Map creation software

Geographic information system

Project management software

Office suite software

Spreadsheet software

Application server software

Mobile location based services software

Graphics or photo imaging software

Document management software

Data conversion software

Word processing software

Route navigation software

Time accounting software

Data base user interface and query software

Information retrieval or search software

Internet browser software

Tools

Theodolites

Measuring rods

Lasers

Levels

Laser measuring systems

Instrument tripods

Tape measures

Prisms

Sonometers

Height gauges

Global positioning system GPS receiver

Map measurers

Optical calibration sets

Measuring tapes

Sonars

Geological compasses

Scanners

Notebook computers

Rangefinders

Electromagnetic geophysical instruments

Distance meters

Extension pole

Plumb bobs

Interferometers

Measuring wheels for distance

Personal computers

Video attachments for microscopes

Level sensors or transmitters

Two way radios

Machetes

Clinometers

Barometers

Abilities

Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Mathematical Reasoning: The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Number Facility: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Spatial Orientation: The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Depth Perception: The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Fluency of Ideas: The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speed of Closure: The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.

Knowledge

Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Geography: Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Design: Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Building and Construction: Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Law and Government: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Administrative: Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Personnel and Human Resources: Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Skills

Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Technology Skills

Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD; Autodesk Revit
Analytical or scientific software: Statistical analysis software; TapRooT
Map creation software: ESRI Site Scan for ArcGIS; OpenDroneMap
Geographic information system: ESRI ArcView; Geographic information system GIS systems
Project management software: Mavenlink; Microsoft Project
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Application server software: Oracle WebLogic Server
Mobile location based services software: Global positioning system GPS software
Graphics or photo imaging software: SmugMug Flickr
Document management software: Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat; Filing system software; Records management software; Transcription system software
Data conversion software: Video file conversion software
Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Route navigation software: Navzilla
Time accounting software: Timekeeping software
Data base user interface and query software: Blackboard software; Database software; Microsoft Access; Yardi software
Information retrieval or search software: LexisNexis
Internet browser software: Web browser software

Tools

Theodolites: Survey transits
Measuring rods: Surveyors leveling rods
Lasers: Fiber optic visual fault locators
Levels: Optical levels
Laser measuring systems: Laser shearography flaw detectors; Verisurf Master3DGage
Instrument tripods: Elevator tripods; Robotic tripods; Tripods
Tape measures: Diameter tape measures
Prisms: Right angle prisms
Sonometers: Digital sonomicrometers
Height gauges:
Global positioning system GPS receiver: Global positioning system GPS receivers
Map measurers: Planimeters
Optical calibration sets: Tribrachs
Measuring tapes: Precision tape measures
Sonars: Underwater sonar equipment
Geological compasses: Underwater compasses
Scanners: Data input scanners
Notebook computers: Laptop computers
Rangefinders: Laser hypsometers
Electromagnetic geophysical instruments: Demagnetizing equipment
Distance meters: Cordage measurers
Extension pole: Pike poles
Plumb bobs:
Interferometers: Holographic interferometers
Measuring wheels for distance: Distance measuring wheels
Personal computers:
Video attachments for microscopes: Video microscopes
Level sensors or transmitters: Level transmitters
Two way radios:
Machetes:
Clinometers:
Barometers: