Survey Technician

Job Details

Sector(s)

Project development; Construction

Median Pay

$46,910 per year

$22.55 per hour

Job Type

Entry- to Mid-Level

Typical Entry-Level
Education and Work
Experience
Requirements

High school diploma; little to no experience required

Alternate Titles

Survey technician with bathymetric and hydrographic expertise.

Brief Job Description

Survey technicians assist surveyors in making precise measurements of the land to determine property boundaries and surface contours for construction projects. Hydrographic survey technicians work on water vessels and assist surveyors in measuring the contours of coastlines and the ocean floor.

Education and Training Level Description

Surveying technicians generally need a high school diploma. Some technicians have additional training in survey technology before entering the field. They learn how to do their job through on-the-job training under the supervision of a surveyor or a surveying team lead (called a survey party chief). Survey technicians start with simple tasks, like placing land markers and entering measurements into computers. With time and experience survey technicians help decide where and how to measure the land and operate more complex surveying equipment. Survey technicians can receive a certified survey technician credential through the National Society of Professional Surveyors. A certification is not required but is becoming increasingly common in the industry.

Hydrographic survey technicians typically work on water vessels. Any hydrographic survey technician who works on a ship with a U.S. flag is required to get the Transportation Worker Identification Credential as proof of their U.S citizenship and of passing the security screening.

Survey technicians can advance to become a party chief who manages teams of survey technicians in the field. Depending on state licensing requirements, survey technicians with many years of experience and formal training may be able to become licensed surveyors.

Job Profile

In the field, survey technicians assist surveyors in taking measurements of the land. Depending on their level of experience, survey technicians use a variety of different instruments including Global Positioning System (GPS) devices and robotic total stations to collect geographic and terrain data. GPS devices allow the surveyors to record precise locations of various terrain features and other data points, while robotic total stations measure and record terrain data.

Survey technicians often work within a crew of other trained survey technicians called a survey party. Survey parties typically have a survey party chief and one or more survey technicians. The party chief can be a licensed surveyor or a senior survey technician. Party chief's lead the day-to-day work of the survey party. After collecting the land or ocean floor measurements and other data, survey technicians often enter the data into computers to be processed and analyzed by the surveyor.

Survey technicians in the marine energy industry may work in several different fields, including boundary or land, engineering or construction, and hydrographic surveys. Boundary, or land, survey jobs involve measuring, recording, and marking the locations of property lines to determine the exact locations and boundaries of on-shore construction projects. Engineering, or construction, survey jobs establish the precise locations for infrastructure construction, such as roads, building foundations, or building depths. In offshore development, hydrographic survey jobs involve surveying bodies of water, such as harbors, ocean floors, and shorelines, to determine the topography of the ground under the water bodies, water depth, and other features. Hydrographic surveys help map these water bodies to inform marine energy siting and construction. Hydrographic survey technicians use a variety of different surveying tools and technologies as compared to land-based survey technicians.

Survey technicians typically:

Visit sites to record survey measurements and other descriptive data
Operate survey instruments, such as GPS devices, electronic distance-measuring equipment (robotic total stations), and other survey equipment to collect data on a location
Set out stakes and marks to conduct a survey
Search for previous survey points, such as old stone markers
Enter the data from survey instruments into computers, either in the field or in an office.

Job Skills

Survey technicians typically need:

Decision-making skills. Survey technicians must be able to exercise some independent judgment in the field because they may not always be able to communicate with team members.
To be detail oriented. Survey and mapping technicians must be precise and accurate in their work. Their results are often entered into legal records.
Listening skills. Survey technicians work outdoors and must communicate with party chiefs and other team members across distances. Following spoken instructions from the party chief is crucial for saving time and preventing errors.
Physical stamina. Survey technicians usually work outdoors, often in rugged terrain. Physical fitness is necessary to carry equipment and to stand most of the day.
Problem-solving skills. Survey and mapping technicians must be able to identify and fix problems with their equipment. They must also note potential problems with the day’s work plan.

More Information, Job Opportunities, etc.

For more information on surveyor jobs, see: