Surveyors
The occupation Surveyors covers people who make exact measurements and determine property boundaries. O*NET rates it as considerable preparation, which usually means a bachelor’s degree plus a period of work experience. It leans on mathematics, reading comprehension, and writing. You may also need to direct or conduct surveys to establish legal boundaries for properties, based on legal deeds and titles. With a code of CRI, this is mostly a job for people drawn to orderly work with data, records and clear procedures. Realistic interests also help, rated 5.3 out of 7. A regular part of the work is to prepare and maintain sketches, maps, reports, and legal descriptions of surveys to describe, certify, and assume liability for work performed. It tends to suit people who want orderly work with data, records and clear procedures, and it offers little for anyone seeking helping, teaching or caring for people.
What they do
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.
Main tasks
- 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.
Skills
- Mathematics
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Coordination
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You like clear rules and getting the details right.
- You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
- You are ready to spend around four years on a degree, then build experience.
- You are comfortable relying on mathematics and reading comprehension.
May not suit you if
- You get restless with routine, records and exact procedures.
- You want helping people to be at the center of your work. Social rates 1.6 out of 7 here.
- You want to avoid a four-year degree or its equivalent.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code CRI takes the three highest, and Conventional comes first here.
Preparation
Considerable preparation. Most jobs here ask for a bachelor’s degree, and employers usually expect a few years of related experience as well.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- City Surveyor
- County Surveyor
- Land Surveyor
- Licensed Land Surveyor
- Mine Surveyor
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.