Surveyors
Also called: County Surveyor, Land Surveyor, Licensed Land Surveyor, SurveyorMake 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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 18 of its 24 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 5.8% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
BLS figures cover the broader occupation “Surveyors”, which includes this one and others.
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 1.7% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Surveyors, cartographers, and photogrammetrists”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.9 hires for every 10 job openings in professional and business services, which employs about 78% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.9 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $66,840 | $50,700 to $86,820 | 910 |
| Alaska | $99,550 | $81,050 to $126,390 | 250 |
| Arizona | $77,490 | $59,390 to $94,730 | 1,360 |
| Arkansas | $51,800 | $42,660 to $65,150 | 550 |
| California | $105,330 | $78,500 to $134,250 | 4,520 |
| Colorado | $79,310 | $63,700 to $100,240 | 1,620 |
| Connecticut | $76,730 | $70,880 to $95,540 | 430 |
| Delaware | $82,890 | $73,990 to $99,580 | 120 |
| Florida | $65,480 | $57,870 to $94,530 | 4,000 |
| Georgia | $58,100 | $48,610 to $78,400 | 1,770 |
| Guam | $61,490 | $44,080 to $62,780 | 60 |
| Hawaii | $82,200 | $61,030 to $96,550 | 140 |
| Idaho | $73,940 | $60,810 to $96,340 | 250 |
| Illinois | $75,980 | $59,940 to $100,380 | 1,710 |
| Indiana | $80,510 | $61,080 to $100,920 | 870 |
| Iowa | $77,090 | $68,580 to $102,220 | 450 |
| Kansas | $75,860 | $63,200 to $95,260 | 350 |
| Kentucky | $71,840 | $49,300 to $78,690 | 670 |
| Louisiana | $63,140 | $48,660 to $91,260 | 1,460 |
| Maine | $83,200 | $61,480 to $118,020 | 270 |
| Maryland | $64,910 | $52,800 to $87,700 | 950 |
| Massachusetts | $94,590 | $76,770 to $104,450 | 1,290 |
| Michigan | $72,080 | $61,130 to $78,740 | 1,050 |
| Minnesota | $83,620 | $67,190 to $100,130 | 980 |
| Mississippi | $58,720 | $47,080 to $77,920 | 570 |
| Missouri | $62,110 | $49,460 to $77,630 | 830 |
| Montana | $84,610 | $71,730 to $104,810 | 350 |
| Nebraska | $68,050 | $59,500 to $80,100 | 430 |
| Nevada | $82,460 | $76,000 to $102,900 | 490 |
| New Hampshire | $65,130 | $60,170 to $80,490 | 280 |
| New Jersey | $77,160 | $65,070 to $100,490 | 900 |
| New Mexico | $74,230 | $53,730 to $93,480 | 290 |
| New York | $78,870 | $63,600 to $103,540 | 1,470 |
| North Carolina | $76,210 | $57,730 to $100,890 | 1,530 |
| North Dakota | $79,360 | $74,700 to $109,260 | 250 |
| Ohio | $70,620 | $57,280 to $91,070 | 1,300 |
| Oklahoma | $61,300 | $48,850 to $85,600 | 960 |
| Oregon | $97,070 | $78,850 to $112,260 | 530 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,950 | $60,630 to $93,720 | 1,610 |
| Puerto Rico | $44,870 | $31,640 to $58,930 | 140 |
| Rhode Island | $62,670 | $53,500 to $79,340 | 150 |
| South Carolina | $63,300 | $50,610 to $83,410 | 1,000 |
| South Dakota | $77,190 | $68,890 to $100,580 | 180 |
| Tennessee | $76,340 | $58,430 to $92,610 | 920 |
| Texas | $61,150 | $49,660 to $81,120 | 6,410 |
| Utah | $73,230 | $58,790 to $94,560 | 650 |
| Vermont | $76,450 | $59,670 to $80,600 | not published |
| Virginia | $71,070 | $59,860 to $94,330 | 1,360 |
| Washington | $85,610 | $76,000 to $119,060 | 780 |
| West Virginia | $61,520 | $49,340 to $80,140 | 630 |
| Wisconsin | $79,650 | $65,560 to $96,690 | 610 |
| Wyoming | $81,250 | $76,690 to $102,000 | 240 |
Nationally: $75,440. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 18 of its 24 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Direct or conduct surveys to establish legal boundaries for properties, based on legal deeds and titles. | Not published |
| AI alone | Verify the accuracy of survey data, including measurements and calculations conducted at survey sites. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Record the results of surveys, including the shape, contour, location, elevation, and dimensions of land or land features. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare, or supervise preparation of, all data, charts, plots, maps, records, and documents related to surveys. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare and maintain sketches, maps, reports, and legal descriptions of surveys to describe, certify, and assume liability for work performed. | Not published |
| AI + software | Write descriptions of property boundary surveys for use in deeds, leases, or other legal documents. | Not published |
See all 24 tasks
| AI + software | Compute geodetic measurements and interpret survey data to determine positions, shapes, and elevations of geomorphic and topographic features. | Not published |
| AI + software | Calculate heights, depths, relative positions, property lines, and other characteristics of terrain. | Not published |
| AI + software | Search legal records, survey records, and land titles to obtain information about property boundaries in areas to be surveyed. | Not published |
| Not much | Plan and conduct ground surveys designed to establish baselines, elevations, and other geodetic measurements. | Not published |
| AI + software | Determine longitudes and latitudes of important features and boundaries in survey areas, using theodolites, transits, levels, and satellite-based global positioning systems (GPS). | Not published |
| Not much | Train assistants and helpers, and direct their work in such activities as performing surveys or drafting maps. | Not published |
| AI + software | Analyze survey objectives and specifications to prepare survey proposals or to direct others in survey proposal preparation. | Not published |
| AI + software | Establish fixed points for use in making maps, using geodetic and engineering instruments. | Not published |
| AI + software | Coordinate findings with the work of engineering and architectural personnel, clients, and others concerned with projects. | Not published |
| AI alone | Develop criteria for survey methods and procedures. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Conduct research in surveying and mapping methods, using knowledge of photogrammetric map compilation and electronic data processing. | Not published |
| Not much | Testify as an expert witness in court cases on land survey issues, such as property boundaries. | Not published |
| Not much | Adjust surveying instruments to maintain their accuracy. | Not published |
| Not much | Survey bodies of water to determine navigable channels and to secure data for construction of breakwaters, piers, and other marine structures. | Not published |
| AI + software | Direct aerial surveys of specified geographical areas. | Not published |
| AI + software | Locate and mark sites selected for geophysical prospecting activities, such as efforts to locate petroleum or other mineral products. | Not published |
| AI alone | Determine specifications for equipment to be used for aerial photography, as well as altitudes from which to photograph terrain. | Not published |
| AI alone | Develop criteria for the design and modification of survey instruments. | under 0.01% |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 3 of the 24 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 24 tasks fall under 14 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #4 Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
- #14 Create visual designs or displays
- #27 Research technology designs or applications
- and 1 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assess characteristics of land or property | |||
| Develop technical specifications for products or operations | |||
| Direct scientific or technical activities | |||
| Create visual designs or displays | |||
| Document technical designs, procedures, or activities | |||
| Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise | |||
| Research technology designs or applications | |||
| Gather data about operational or development activities |
Show all 14 activities
| Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data | |||
| Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Coordinate activities with clients, agencies, or organizations | |||
| Analyze environmental or geospatial data | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures | |||
| Present information in legal proceedings |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- Math or a calculation40%
- A document or report19%
- An explanation or answer13%
- Data or a spreadsheet7%
- An analysis or summary4%
How they worked with Claude
38% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for surveyors specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 11,480 moves out
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
- 2 Chief Executives Very high +3.2% 5%
- 3 Medical and Health Services Managers High +24.2% 4%
- 4 Management Analysts Very high +10.1% 4%
- 5 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 12,312 moves in
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 2 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 4%
- 3 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 3%
- 4 Medical and Health Services Managers High +24.2% 3%
- 5 Chief Executives Very high +3.2% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 16% high school
- 5% postsecondary certificate
- 21% some college
- 11% associate's
- 47% bachelor's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 19 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 1% less than high school
- 5% high school
- 8% some college
- 5% associate's
- 68% bachelor's
- 10% master's
- 3% professional degree
- 1% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Surveyors, cartographers, and photogrammetrists” · 379 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Surveyors, cartographers, and photogrammetrists”
2 programs: Surveying Engineering and Surveying Technology/Surveying.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
>70% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | not published | |
| a certification | not published | |
| an educational certificate | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeships: DOL's list of apprenticeable occupations doesn't include this one.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/17-1022.00