Surveying and Mapping Technicians
Perform surveying and mapping duties, usually under the direction of an engineer, surveyor, cartographer, or photogrammetrist, to obtain data used for construction, mapmaking, boundary location, mining, or other purposes. May calculate mapmaking information and create maps from source data, such as surveying notes, aerial photography, satellite data, or other maps to show topographical features, political boundaries, and other features. May verify accuracy and completeness of maps.
Also called: Compass Operator, Field Map Technician (Field Map Tech), Field Survey Technician (Field Survey Tech), Field Surveyor, Geodetic Computator, GIS Mapping Technician (Geographic Information Systems Mapping Technician)
Median pay
$54,240
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$37,520 – $81,630
People employed
58,010
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Work outdoors in all weather
Surveying and Mapping Technicians pay by state
Annual median pay by state (50 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What surveying and mapping technicians do
- 01Set out and recover stakes, marks, or other monumentation.
- 02Search for section corners, property irons, or survey points.
- 03Calculate latitudes, longitudes, angles, areas, or other information for mapmaking, using survey field notes or reference tables.
- 04Enter Global Positioning System (GPS) data, legal deeds, field notes, or land survey reports into geographic information system (GIS) workstations so that information can be transformed into graphic land descriptions, such as maps and drawings.
- 05Adjust and operate surveying instruments such as prisms, theodolites, electronic distance measuring equipment, or electronic data collectors.
- 06Check all layers of maps to ensure accuracy, identifying and marking errors and making corrections.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Mathematics
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
Knowledge
- Geography
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from surveying and mapping technicians
- Geodetic Surveyors89% · group pay
- Surveyors87% · +39%
- Cartographers and Photogrammetrists84% · +50%
- Remote Sensing Technicians82% · group pay
- Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians82% · group pay
Change into surveying and mapping technicians
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Geodetic Surveyors91% · $75,440
- Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians84% · $116,580
- Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians84% · $53,350
- Remote Sensing Technicians84% · $62,280
- Traffic Technicians84% · $59,090
Majors that lead here
- Surveying Technology/Surveying
- Geography
- Geographic Information Science and Cartography
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.