Survey Technician

Job Details

Sector(s)

Project Development; Construction

Median Pay

$46,910 per year

$22.55 per hour

Job Type

Entry- to Mid-Level

Typical Entry-Level Education and Work Experience Requirements

High school diploma, little to no experience needed

Alternate Titles

N/A

Brief Job Description

Survey technicians make precise measurements of the land to determine property boundaries and surface contours for construction projects. They assist surveyors and often work in the field with a team.

Education and Training Level Description

Survey technicians generally need a high school diploma. Some technicians have additional training in survey technology before entering the field. They learn how to do their job through on-the-job training under the supervision of a surveyor or a surveying team lead (called a survey party chief). Survey technicians start with simple tasks like placing land markers and entering measurements into computers. With time and experience, survey technicians help decide where and how to measure the land and operate more complex surveying equipment. Survey technicians can receive a Certified Survey Technician credential through the National Society of Professional Surveyors. A certification is not required but is becoming increasingly common in the industry. 

Survey technicians can advance to become a survey party chief, who manages teams of survey technicians in the field. Depending on state licensing requirements, survey technicians with many years of experience and formal training may be able to become licensed surveyors.

Job Profile

In the field, survey technicians assist surveyors in taking measurements of the land. Depending on their level of experience, survey technicians use a variety of different instruments, including Global Positioning System (GPS) devices and robotic total stations, to collect geographic and terrain data. GPS devices allow the surveyors to record precise locations of various terrain features and other data points, whereas robotic total stations measure and record terrain data. 

Survey technicians often work within a crew of other trained survey technicians (called a survey party). Survey parties typically have a survey party chief and one or more survey technicians. The survey party chief can be a licensed surveyor or a senior survey technician. Survey party chiefs lead the day-to-day work of the survey party. After collecting the land measurements and other data, survey technicians often enter the data into computers to be processed and analyzed by the surveyor.

Survey technicians can work in a variety of different fields. They may support surveyors to mark the locations of property lines to determine the exact locations and boundaries of hydropower construction projects; establish the precise locations for infrastructure construction, such as roads, building foundations, or building depths; or survey bodies of water, such as lakes and rivers, to determine the topography of the ground under the water bodies, water depth, and other features to inform reservoir maintenance, such as dredging.

Survey technicians typically:

  • Visit sites to record survey measurements and other descriptive data
  • Operate surveying instruments, such as electronic distance-measuring equipment (robotic total stations), to collect data on a location
  • Set out stakes and marks to conduct a survey
  • Search for previous survey points, such as old stone markers
  • Enter the data from surveying instruments into computers, either in the field or in an office.

Job Skills

Survey technicians typically need:

  • Decision-making skills. Survey technicians must be able to exercise some independent judgment in the field because they may not always be able to communicate with team members.
  • To be detail oriented. Survey (and mapping) technicians must be precise and accurate in their work. Their results are often entered into legal records.
  • Listening skills. Survey technicians work outdoors and must communicate with survey party chiefs and other team members across distances. Following spoken instructions from the survey party chief is crucial for saving time and preventing errors.
  • Physical stamina. Survey technicians usually work outdoors, often in rugged terrain. Physical fitness is necessary to carry equipment and to stand most of the day.
  • Problem-solving skills. Survey (and mapping) technicians must be able to identify and fix problems with their equipment. They must also note potential problems with the day’s work plan.

More Information, Job Opportunities, etc.

For more information on surveyor jobs, see: 

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