Jobs Similar to Surveying and Mapping Technicians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to surveying and mapping technicians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Geodetic Surveyors, Surveyors and Remote Sensing Technicians.
Surveying and Mapping Technicians: $54,240 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Surveying and Mapping Technicians) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geodetic Surveyors | 84% | $75,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Surveyors | 82% | $75,440+39% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Remote Sensing Technicians | 80% | $62,280Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | 79% | $81,390+50% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians | 77% | $116,580Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Traffic Technicians | 77% | $59,090+9% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | 77% | $53,350−2% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Electrical and Electronics DraftersSame group | 75% | $76,870+42% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 74% | $64,950+20% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | 74% | $122,570Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Forest and Conservation Technicians | 73% | $54,560+1% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Construction and Building Inspectors | 73% | $74,690+38% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Environmental Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 72% | $59,920+10% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists | 72% | $130,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Hydrologists | 72% | $96,600+78% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 72% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Power Distributors and Dispatchers | 71% | $106,730+97% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Wind Energy Engineers | 71% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | 71% | $55,090+2% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | 71% | $106,220+96% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Geodetic Surveyors
84% similar · $75,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Surveyors
82% similar · $75,440 (+39%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Remote Sensing Technicians
80% similar · $62,280 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
79% similar · $81,390 (+50%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians
77% similar · $116,580 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Traffic Technicians
77% similar · $59,090 (+9%) · Training or associate
- 7Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
77% similar · $53,350 (−2%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Electrical and Electronics Drafters
75% similar · $76,870 (+42%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 9Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
74% similar · $64,950 (+20%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 10Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
74% similar · $122,570 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Forest and Conservation Technicians
73% similar · $54,560 (+1%) · Training or associate
- 12Construction and Building Inspectors
73% similar · $74,690 (+38%) · Training or associate
- 13Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
72% similar · $59,920 (+10%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
72% similar · $130,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Hydrologists
72% similar · $96,600 (+78%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Solar Energy Systems Engineers
72% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Power Distributors and Dispatchers
71% similar · $106,730 (+97%) · Training or associate
- 18Wind Energy Engineers
71% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
71% similar · $55,090 (+2%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
71% similar · $106,220 (+96%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than surveying and mapping technicians.
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers71% similar · $106,730 (+97%)
- Electrical and Electronics Drafters75% similar · $76,870 (+42%)
- Construction and Building Inspectors73% similar · $74,690 (+38%)
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians74% similar · $64,950 (+20%)
- Traffic Technicians77% similar · $59,090 (+9%)
- Forest and Conservation Technicians73% similar · $54,560 (+1%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for surveying and mapping technicians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where surveying and mapping technicians is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Geodetic Surveyors (91)
- Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians (84)
- Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians (84)
- Remote Sensing Technicians (84)
- Traffic Technicians (84)
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists (78)
- Surveyors (78)
- Forest and Conservation Technicians (73)
- Cartographers and Photogrammetrists (72)
- Solar Energy Systems Engineers (69)
Questions about jobs like surveying and mapping technicians
What jobs are most similar to surveying and mapping technicians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Geodetic Surveyors (84% similar), Surveyors (82% similar), Remote Sensing Technicians (80% similar), Cartographers and Photogrammetrists (79% similar) and Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians (77% similar).
Which jobs like surveying and mapping technicians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Power Distributors and Dispatchers ($106,730, +97%; usually training or an associate degree), Mining and Geological Engineers ($106,220, +96%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Hydrologists ($96,600, +78%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with surveying and mapping technicians ($54,240). Without more preparation than surveying and mapping technicians usually need: Power Distributors and Dispatchers, Electrical and Electronics Drafters and Construction and Building Inspectors.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.