Geodetic Surveyors build complex problem solving, judgment and decision making and systems evaluation skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Surveying and Mapping Technicians (91%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Surveying and Mapping Technicians | 91% | $54,240 | — | None |
| 2 | Remote Sensing Technicians | 88% | $62,280Pay for the broader BLS group “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 3 | Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | 88% | $53,350 | — | None |
| 4 | Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians | 86% | $116,580Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Hydrologists | 86% | $96,600 | — | None |
| 6 | Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | 84% | $122,570Pay for the broader BLS group “Physical Scientists, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 7 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 82% | $101,920 | — | None |
| 8 | Traffic Technicians | 78% | $59,090 | — | None |
| 9 | Atmospheric and Space Scientists | 76% | $99,070 | — | None |
| 10 | Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists | 76% | $130,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Electronics Engineers, Except Computer” | Not compared | None |
Compared with Geodetic Surveyors, median —. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as geodetic surveyors (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
91% skill match · $54,240
Negotiation · Technology Design
88% skill match · $62,280 (broader BLS group)
Negotiation · Troubleshooting · Programming
88% skill match · $53,350
Negotiation · Persuasion · Time Management
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Surveying and Mapping Technicians (91% skill match, median $54,240), Remote Sensing Technicians (88% skill match, median $62,280) and Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians (88% skill match, median $53,350), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
None of the 25 closest matches pays more than geodetic surveyors at the national median (BLS May 2025). Higher-paying moves usually need more training.
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.