Career Explorer > Career Details
| Land Surveyor |
$46,080 Annual Average (US Bureau of Labor and Statistics) |
| Career Cluster: Power, Structural and Technical Systems | |
| General
Information: Land Surveyors apply mathematics to determine the area of a portion of the earth’s surface, as well as the lengths and directions of boundary lines; they then delineate these specifications on paper. |
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| Career
Information: Land Surveyors make exact measurements and establish elevation points, lines, and contours on or near the surface of the earth. They compile data for setting property boundaries, for mapmaking, for construction projects, and for engineering purposes. Land Surveyors set official land and water boundaries. They write detailed reports about land for inclusion in deeds, leases, and other legal documents. They define air space for airports, and they measure mineral sites and construction projects. Land Surveyors may direct one or more survey parties to measure distances, directions, and angles between points and elevations of the points, lines, and contours on the surface of the earth. Land Surveyors plan the fieldwork. They select the survey reference points, and determine the exact location of all the important features of the survey area. They also research legal records to look for evidence of previous boundaries. They may examine courthouse records for opinions on legal property lines. They establish township, property, and other boundary lines on tracts of land. Once the survey is completed, the Land Surveyors record the results and verify the accuracy of the data. With measurements from the field, land surveyors prepare data or information in a form clients can use. They may prepare maps, plats, or reports. Clients could include engineers, who will use the data in engineering designs, building contractors planning a construction project, or real estate evaluators trying to resolve an ownership dispute. |
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| Educational
Requirements: 4 year degree |
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| Suggested High School/Collegiate
Courses: Agriculture, drafting, geometry, statistics, physics, math, civil engineering and computers. Degree in Civil Engineering |
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| Skills
Necessary: Mathematical , Organizational , Dependable , Work independently , Computer Skills , Detail Oriented , Technical , Customer Service , Orderly Minded , Good Judgment , Determination , Confidence , Persistent |
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| Job
Availability: Good Growth |
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| Location
of jobs: Much surveying is performed in remote, physically challenging locations and requires the carrying of equipment over undeveloped terrain. |
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| Working
Conditions: Surveying involves rigorous physical work. The work of Land Surveyors and Technicians is sometimes strenuous. They work outdoors in all kinds of weather. They stand for long periods, walk, and climb hills with a heavy pack of instruments and equipment. They may commute long distances to the job site. Surveyors also spend considerable time in an office, planning surveys and preparing reports, charts, and maps. They do most drafting and computational work on a computer. Some survey technicians may spend all their time in the office computing and drafting with the aid of a computer. |
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| FFA
Programs that Promote this Career: CDE: Ag Mechanics , CDE: Environmental and Natural Resources , CDE: Forestry , Supervised Agriculture Experience: Exploratory , Supervised Agriculture Experience: Placement , American Degree , Proficiencies |
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| Related
Occupations: Agriculture Engineering , Agriculture General , Service |
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| Current
FFA Sponsor/Employer Opportunities Available: |
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