Jobs Similar to Surveyors
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to surveyors, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Surveying and Mapping Technicians, Geodetic Surveyors and Traffic Technicians.
Surveyors: $75,440 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
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. Surveyors) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Surveying and Mapping Technicians | 82% | $54,240−28% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Geodetic SurveyorsSame group | 81% | $75,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Traffic Technicians | 77% | $59,090−22% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Cartographers and PhotogrammetristsSame group | 76% | $81,390+8% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Remote Sensing Technicians | 76% | $62,280Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 75% | $64,950−14% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | 75% | $53,350−29% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Construction and Building Inspectors | 75% | $74,690−1% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 74% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | 74% | $55,090−27% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 74% | $59,920−21% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Telecommunications Engineering Specialists | 73% | $134,050Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 13 | Power Distributors and Dispatchers | 72% | $106,730+41% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists | 72% | $130,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Wind Energy Engineers | 72% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Environmental Engineers | 72% | $107,110+42% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Water Resource Specialists | 72% | $167,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | 72% | $106,220+41% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Forest and Conservation Technicians | 72% | $54,560−28% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | 71% | $112,230+49% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Surveying and Mapping Technicians
82% similar · $54,240 (−28%) · Training or associate
- 2Geodetic Surveyors
81% similar · $75,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Traffic Technicians
77% similar · $59,090 (−22%) · Training or associate
- 4Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
76% similar · $81,390 (+8%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Remote Sensing Technicians
76% similar · $62,280 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
75% similar · $64,950 (−14%) · Training or associate
- 7Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
75% similar · $53,350 (−29%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Construction and Building Inspectors
75% similar · $74,690 (−1%) · Training or associate
- 9Solar Energy Systems Engineers
74% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
74% similar · $55,090 (−27%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
74% similar · $59,920 (−21%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Telecommunications Engineering Specialists
73% similar · $134,050 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 13Power Distributors and Dispatchers
72% similar · $106,730 (+41%) · Training or associate
- 14Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
72% similar · $130,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Wind Energy Engineers
72% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Environmental Engineers
72% similar · $107,110 (+42%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Water Resource Specialists
72% similar · $167,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
72% similar · $106,220 (+41%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Forest and Conservation Technicians
72% similar · $54,560 (−28%) · Training or associate
- 20Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
71% similar · $112,230 (+49%) · 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 surveyors.
- Marine Engineers and Naval Architects71% similar · $112,230 (+49%)
- Environmental Engineers72% similar · $107,110 (+42%)
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers72% similar · $106,730 (+41%)
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers72% similar · $106,220 (+41%)
- Cartographers and Photogrammetrists76% similar · $81,390 (+8%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians82% similar · Training or associate
- Traffic Technicians77% similar · Training or associate
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians75% similar · Training or associate
- Construction and Building Inspectors75% similar · Training or associate
- Telecommunications Engineering Specialists73% similar · Training or associate
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers72% similar · Training or associate
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for surveyors also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where surveyors is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians (87)
- Remote Sensing Technicians (80)
- Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians (75)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (74)
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (74)
- Solar Energy Systems Engineers (74)
- Traffic Technicians (72)
- Wind Energy Engineers (72)
- Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians (71)
- Water/Wastewater Engineers (71)
Questions about jobs like surveyors
What jobs are most similar to surveyors?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Surveying and Mapping Technicians (82% similar), Geodetic Surveyors (81% similar), Traffic Technicians (77% similar), Cartographers and Photogrammetrists (76% similar) and Remote Sensing Technicians (76% similar).
Which jobs like surveyors pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Marine Engineers and Naval Architects ($112,230, +49%; usually a bachelor's degree), Environmental Engineers ($107,110, +42%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Power Distributors and Dispatchers ($106,730, +41%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with surveyors ($75,440). Without more preparation than surveyors usually need: Marine Engineers and Naval Architects, Environmental Engineers and Power Distributors and Dispatchers.
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.