www.landsurveyorforhire.com

There have been dramatic changes in the economy over the last year. In spite of all the negative news, there are many bright spots in the Land Surveying Profession. Read about Department of Labor Statistics that shed a positive light on the profession.

EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 7 out of 10 jobs in the current economy are in architectural, engineering, and related services. Opportunities will be best for surveyors, cartographers, and photogrammetrists who have a bachelor’s degree and strong technical skills. Overall employment of surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and surveying technicians is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2016. The extensive availability and use of sophisticated technologies, such as remote sensing and GPS, will continue to increase the precision and productivity of these workers. Surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and surveying technicians held about 148,000 jobs in 2006 and overall employment was distributed by occupational specialty as follows:

Surveying and mapping technicians----------76,000
Surveyors----------------------------------------60,000
Cartographers and photogrammetrists-------12,000

The architectural, engineering, and related services industry, including firms that provided surveying and mapping services to other industries on a contract basis, provided 7 out of 10 jobs for these workers. Federal, State, and local governmental agencies provided about 14 percent of these jobs. Major federal government employers are the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the National Geodetic Survey (NGS), the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGIA), and the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE). 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.

Overall employment of surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and surveying and mapping technicians is expected to increase by 21 percent from 2006 to 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Increasing demand for fast, accurate, and complete geographic information will be the main source of growth for these occupations. GIS a rapidly developing technology that is used to create maps and information which is used in emergency planning, security, marketing, urban planning, natural resource exploration, construction, and other applications. In addition, the increased popularity of online mapping systems has created a higher demand for and awareness of geographic information among consumers.

In addition to openings from growth, job openings will continue to arise from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or who leave the labor force altogether. Many of the workers in these occupations are approaching retirement age as the average age of today’ Land Surveyor is in the mid-fifties.

Opportunities for surveyors, cartographers, and photogrammetrists should remain concentrated in engineering, surveying, mapping, building inspection, and drafting services firms. However, employment may fluctuate from year to year for those involved in the with construction activity or for those involved with mapping needs for land and resource management.

As technologies become more complex, opportunities will be best for surveyors, cartographers, and photogrammetrists who have a bachelor’s degree and strong technical skills. Increasing demand for geographic data, as opposed to traditional surveying services, will mean better opportunities for cartographers and photogrammetrists who are involved in the development and use of geographic and land information systems.

According to employment projections developed by the United States Department of Labor for the surveying profession through the year 2016, the following changes are expected to occur.

OCCUPATIONAL TITLE EMPLOYMENT PROJECTED CHANGE
2006-2016
2006 2016 NO. %

Surveyors, Cartographers 148,000 179,000 31,000 21
Photogrammetrists, and
Surveying Technicians

Cartographers and 12,000 15,000 2,500 20
Photogrammetrists

Surveyors 60,000 74,000 14,000 24

Surveying and Mapping 76,000 90,000 15,000 19

NOTE: Data in this table are rounded. See the discussion of the employment projections table in the Handbook introductory chapter on Occupational Information Included in the Handbook.

Median annual earnings of cartographers and photogrammetrists were $48,240 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $37,480 and $65,240. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,910 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $80,520.

Median annual earnings of surveyors were $48,290 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $35,720 and $63,990. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,690 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $79,910. Median annual earnings of surveyors employed in architectural, engineering, and related services were $47,570 in May 2006.

Median annual earnings of surveying and mapping technicians were $32,340 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $25,070 and $42,230. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $20,020, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $53,310. Median annual earnings of surveying and mapping technicians employed in architectural, engineering, and related services were $30,670 in May 2006, while those employed by local governments had median annual earnings of $37,550.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, predicts the number of jobs for surveyors and mapping scientists to increase 10 to 20 percent by 2012. For surveying technicians, the number of jobs is expected to increase 21 to 35 percent by 2012. Surveying technicians assist land surveyors by operating survey instruments and collecting information in the field and by performing computations and computer-aided drafting in offices.
According to the U.S, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for all experience levels of surveying and mapping scientists is nearly $63,000 a year. That is comparable to a civil engineer’s salary, which is a little more than $61,000 a year.

These numbers show the average salary level of an experienced professional. Surveyor’s salaries will vary depending on the level you strive for. You can be a business owner or work as a technician on a crew. It is really up to the individual. As a CEO of a surveying firm, you can make twice the average shown here.

Entry-level salaries vary across the country but average about $44,000 for a surveyor with a four-year degree. Of course, starting salaries could be higher or lower depending on the candidate’s experience and other factors. Surveying technicians, who generally have two-year degrees, have an average starting salary of about $25,000. Surveying technicians assist land surveyors by operating survey instruments and collecting information in the field and by performing computations and computer-aided drafting in offices.

The California Land Surveyors Association conducted a survey of its members in 2007 in order to determine the Gross Adjusted Income, the report tallied CLSA members about their Average Annual Income and Added Income (AI) which included overtime, bonuses and profit sharing. The Southern California Region (CLSA Region) 4 which covers San Diego and Los Angeles reported the following:

Title: Company Owner/Principal
Average Annual Income = $131,928
AI = $ 43,497
_________________________________________________
Gross Adjusted Income = $175,425

Title: Department Manager
Average Annual Income = $101,126
AI = $ 11,001
_________________________________________________
Gross Adjusted Income = $112,127

Title: Project Surveyor
Average Annual Income = $ 95,761
AI = $ 12,799
_________________________________________________
Gross Adjusted Income = $108,560

Title: Field Crew/Party Chief
Average Annual Income = $ 74,908
AI = $ 10,587
_________________________________________________
Gross Adjusted Income = $ 85,495

Title: Office Technician
Average Annual Income = $ 60,783
AI = $ 4,092
_________________________________________________
Gross Adjusted Income = $ 64,875

SEE CLSA REGIONAL SALARY MAP MAP

The United Stated Department of Labor has also conducted an analysis of the professional and has determined the following:
Employment (1)
Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)

56,670 2.2 % $26.18 $54,450 0.7 %

Percentile wage estimates for Land Surveyors:
Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 75% 90%
Hourly Wage $13.75 $18.24 $24.82 $32.85 $40.15
Annual Wage (2)
$28,590 $37,930 $51,630 $68,340 $83,510

Industry profile for Land Surveyors:
Note: “OES” refers to “Occupational Employment Statistics” as established by the United States Department of Labor http://www.bls.gov/.

Industry Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
44,130 $25.84 $53,740
Local Government (OES designation)
3,140 $26.95 $56,060
State Government (OES designation)
1,760 $30.52 $63,490
Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction
1,240 $25.55 $53,150
Nonresidential Building Construction
880 $24.91 $51,820

Top paying industries for Land Surveyors:
Industry Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)
470 $36.54 $76,000
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations
(4)
$33.96 $70,630
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
120 $31.66 $65,850
State Government (OES designation)
1,760 $30.52 $63,490
Support Activities for Water Transportation
230 $30.13 $62,660

Top paying States for Land Surveyors:
State Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of State employment
California
6,070 $33.96 $70,640 0.040%
Washington
930 $31.48 $65,480 0.033%
New Jersey
1,610 $31.24 $64,980 0.040%
Minnesota
770 $30.27 $62,950 0.029%
Oregon
530 $30.04 $62,490 0.032%

Metropolitan areas with the highest published employment concentrations and wages for Land Surveyors:
MSA Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of MSA employment
Anchorage, AK
330 (4)
(4)
0.203%
Yuba City, CA
70 $35.39 $73,600 0.172%
Tucson, AZ
560 $21.63 $44,990 0.148%
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS
150 $15.29 $31,810 0.145%
Charleston, WV
200 $17.21 $35,800 0.138%

Top paying Metropolitan areas for this occupation:
MSA Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of MSA employment
Clarksville, TN-KY
(4)
$48.70 $101,300 (4)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria, CA
(4)
$44.34 $92,230 (4)

El Paso, TX
40 $39.95 $83,100 0.015%
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division
940 $37.49 $77,970 0.023%
Midland, TX
50 $37.03 $77,020 0.074%

About May 2007 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas in every State and the District of Columbia. The top five employment and wage figures are provided above. Percentile wage estimates show the percentage of workers in an occupation that earn less than a given wage and the percentage that earn more. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate - 50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median.

(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(4) Estimate not released.

Other Occupational Employment Statistics estimates and related information:

May 2007 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2007 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2007 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2007 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

Download May 2007 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped Excel files

Technical notes