Surveyors
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Surveyors: Make exact measurements and determine property boundaries. Provide data relevant to the shape, contour, gravitation, location, elevation, or dimension of land or land features on or near the earth's surface for engineering, mapmaking, mining, land evaluation, construction, and other purposes.
Surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and surveying technicians held about 131,000 jobs in 2004. The following tabulation shows the distribution of employment by occupational specialty:
| Surveying and mapping technicians | 65,000 |
| Surveyors | 56,000 |
| Cartographers and photogrammetrists | 11,000 |
The architectural, engineering, and related services industry—including firms that provided surveying and mapping services to other industries on a contract basis—provided 2 out of 3 jobs for these workers. Federal, State, and local governmental agencies provided almost 1 in 6 jobs. Major Federal Government employers are the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the National Geodetic Survey, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Most surveyors in State and local government work for highway departments or urban planning and redevelopment agencies. Construction, mining and utility companies also employ Surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and surveying technicians. Only a small number were self-employed in 2004.
Median annual earnings of cartographers and photogrammetrists were $46,080 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $35,160 and $59,830. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,210 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $74,440.
Median annual earnings of surveyors were $42,980 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $31,940 and $57,190. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,640 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $71,640. Median hourly earnings of surveyors employed in architectural, engineering, and related services were $41,710 in May 2004.
Median annual earnings of surveying and mapping technicians were $30,380 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $23,600 and $40,100. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,140, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $51,070. Median annual earnings of surveying and mapping technicians employed in architectural, engineering, and related services were $28,610 in May 2004, while those employed by local governments had median annual earnings of $34,810.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Surveyors, Cartographers, Photogrammetrists, and Surveying Technicians)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Surveyors | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Mining employment: 560 mean earnings: $50,290 (EC) (def) (IG) | $26,130 | $33,530 | $44,610 | $63,240 | $83,720 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) employment: 350 mean earnings: $42,690 | $27,200 | $33,520 | $41,310 | $50,840 | $61,500 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: 180 mean earnings: $60,380 | $25,010 | $35,670 | $64,220 | $81,850 | $95,200 |
| Utilities employment: 530 mean earnings: $52,910 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,940 | $40,580 | $51,870 | $63,370 | $74,720 |
| Utilities employment: 530 mean earnings: $52,910 | $30,940 | $40,580 | $51,870 | $63,370 | $74,720 |
| Construction employment: 4,120 mean earnings: $47,780 (EC) (def) (IG) | $24,440 | $32,660 | $45,360 | $58,790 | $74,270 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 1,110 mean earnings: $49,380 | $27,160 | $35,460 | $47,000 | $59,540 | $77,150 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 2,440 mean earnings: $47,140 | $23,500 | $31,500 | $44,610 | $58,400 | $72,930 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 570 mean earnings: $47,350 | $23,910 | $32,530 | $44,940 | $59,340 | $74,740 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 60 mean earnings: $39,910 (EC) (def) (IG) | $24,180 | $25,950 | $29,980 | $39,850 | $47,610 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: n.a. mean earnings: $44,610 | $26,000 | $29,020 | $34,770 | $42,740 | $50,480 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 140 mean earnings: $74,160 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,060 | $48,570 | $67,580 | $98,210 | $129,970 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: n.a. mean earnings: $85,910 | $45,480 | $59,160 | $82,660 | $119,370 | $135,250 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 60 mean earnings: $44,250 (EC) (def) (IG) | $24,490 | $27,620 | $37,650 | $61,260 | $75,720 |
| Real Estate employment: 50 mean earnings: $43,430 | $24,190 | $27,200 | $34,380 | $61,040 | $77,630 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 42,510 mean earnings: $48,430 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,140 | $33,340 | $45,150 | $59,690 | $75,670 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 42,510 mean earnings: $48,430 | $25,140 | $33,340 | $45,150 | $59,690 | $75,670 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 180 mean earnings: $63,380 (EC) (def) (IG) | $31,660 | $43,410 | $61,520 | $75,670 | $89,300 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 180 mean earnings: $63,380 | $31,660 | $43,410 | $61,520 | $75,670 | $89,300 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 250 mean earnings: $37,420 (EC) (def) (IG) | $21,860 | $26,350 | $34,330 | $44,990 | $60,470 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 250 mean earnings: $37,320 | $21,830 | $26,300 | $34,210 | $44,670 | $60,540 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: n.a. mean earnings: $46,390 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,370 | $37,000 | $41,770 | $57,330 | $68,800 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: n.a. mean earnings: $43,550 | $31,910 | $36,350 | $40,450 | $44,560 | $65,050 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 5,560 mean earnings: $52,970 (def) (IG) | $30,900 | $39,830 | $52,480 | $66,320 | $76,860 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 5,560 mean earnings: $52,970 | $30,900 | $39,830 | $52,480 | $66,320 | $76,860 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.