Occupations/17-3031.00
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.
Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.
AI automation risk
66%
Higher automation risk
Human characteristics
46%
Balanced human and task mix
Task orientation
73%
Higher automation risk
A day in this job
- Mostly routine
Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations.
- Mostly routine
Monitor mapping work or the updating of maps to ensure accuracy, inclusion of new or changed information, or compliance with rules and regulations.
- Mostly routine
Determine scales, line sizes, or colors to be used for hard copies of computerized maps, using plotters.
The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations.
- 02Check all layers of maps to ensure accuracy, identifying and marking errors and making corrections.
- 03Design or develop information databases that include geographic or topographic data.
- 04Monitor mapping work or the updating of maps to ensure accuracy, inclusion of new or changed information, or compliance with rules and regulations.
- 05Produce or update overlay maps to show information boundaries, water locations, or topographic features on various base maps or at different scales.
- 06Determine scales, line sizes, or colors to be used for hard copies of computerized maps, using plotters.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.83
- Degree of automation2.59
- Time sitting3.29
- Originality (ability)2.75
- Conflict situations2.38
- Hands-on objects/tools3.71
- Outdoors / weather3.31
- Disease exposure1.25
- Decision freedom4.30
Top abilities
- Written Comprehension3.75
- Near Vision3.50
- Oral Expression3.38
- Oral Comprehension3.38
- Inductive Reasoning3.38
- Written Expression3.25
- Problem Sensitivity3.25
- Information Ordering3.25
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.88
- Active Listening3.12
- Writing3.25
- Speaking3.12
- Mathematics3.25
- Science1.62
- Critical Thinking3.38
- Active Learning3.00
- Learning Strategies2.50
- Monitoring3.12
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 59 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit | Geography 45.0701 | $68,200 | 12% | 92% | 1 yr $62,508 2 yr $60,094 Master's · CIP 45.07 |
University of Florida Gainesville, FL · Public | Surveying Technology/Surveying 15.1102 | $6,400 | 23% | 89% | 1 yr $61,064 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 15.11 |
Howard University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit | Geography 45.0701 | $33,200 | 53% | 65% | 1 yr $51,273 2 yr $44,971 Bachelor's · CIP 45.07 |
Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX · Public | Geography 45.0701 | $13,200 | 63% | 83% | 1 yr $47,520 2 yr $41,565 Bachelor's · CIP 45.07 |
University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public | Geography 45.0701 | $13,800 | 9% | 92% | 1 yr $47,260 2 yr $46,087 Bachelor's · CIP 45.07 |
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL · Public | Geography 45.0701 | $17,500 | 45% | 85% | 1 yr $44,384 2 yr $31,133 Bachelor's · CIP 45.07 |
The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL · Public | Geography 45.0701 | $11,900 | 80% | 73% | 1 yr $42,682 2 yr $41,565 Bachelor's · CIP 45.07 |
Michigan State University East Lansing, MI · Public | Geography 45.0701 | $16,100 | 88% | 82% | 1 yr $42,188 2 yr $41,937 Bachelor's · CIP 45.07 |
Bemidji State University Bemidji, MN · Public | Geography 45.0701 | $9,900 | 77% | 58% | 1 yr $41,937 2 yr $36,941 Bachelor's · CIP 45.07 |
University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA · Public | Geography 45.0701 | $12,600 | 48% | 84% | 1 yr $41,342 2 yr $36,164 Bachelor's · CIP 45.07 |
Texas State Technical College Waco, TX · Public | Geography 45.0701 | $7,200 | 100% | 45% | 1 yr $40,712 2 yr $36,717 Bachelor's · CIP 45.07 |
The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX · Public | Geography 45.0701 | $11,700 | 31% | 88% | 1 yr $39,909 2 yr $39,523 Bachelor's · CIP 45.07 |