Surveying and Mapping Technicians
Also called: Land Surveyor, Mapping Technician (Mapping Tech), Stereoplotter Operator, Survey Technician (Survey Tech)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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 27 of its 30 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.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 2.4% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.9 hires for every 10 job openings in professional and business services, which employs about 77% 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 | $46,450 | $36,930 to $59,740 | 1,320 |
| Alaska | $76,970 | $66,470 to $88,930 | 300 |
| Arizona | $54,080 | $45,410 to $64,890 | 700 |
| Arkansas | $46,370 | $39,150 to $58,590 | 810 |
| California | $78,110 | $61,090 to $102,770 | 3,340 |
| Colorado | $57,890 | $46,290 to $70,620 | 2,340 |
| Connecticut | $58,900 | $47,790 to $77,090 | 380 |
| Delaware | $57,130 | $48,170 to $61,270 | 180 |
| Florida | $48,040 | $39,310 to $60,930 | 4,810 |
| Georgia | $48,810 | $37,540 to $60,690 | 1,890 |
| Hawaii | $55,580 | $47,150 to $60,800 | 140 |
| Idaho | $52,630 | $45,280 to $62,930 | 450 |
| Illinois | $57,470 | $48,090 to $68,080 | 1,110 |
| Indiana | $56,440 | $45,180 to $62,400 | 1,060 |
| Iowa | $58,950 | $49,920 to $63,310 | 390 |
| Kansas | $50,900 | $50,440 to $61,870 | 730 |
| Kentucky | $46,050 | $42,880 to $59,160 | 920 |
| Louisiana | $49,440 | $41,600 to $69,210 | 930 |
| Maine | $56,470 | $50,400 to $61,910 | 220 |
| Maryland | $61,600 | $46,240 to $77,640 | 470 |
| Massachusetts | $58,730 | $50,660 to $76,560 | 640 |
| Michigan | $50,340 | $46,940 to $66,140 | 690 |
| Minnesota | $73,190 | $61,980 to $81,120 | 1,060 |
| Mississippi | $47,320 | $38,790 to $59,490 | 550 |
| Missouri | $51,700 | $45,590 to $62,180 | 720 |
| Montana | $60,330 | $48,260 to $65,580 | 430 |
| Nebraska | $48,080 | $45,350 to $56,120 | 770 |
| Nevada | $58,790 | $46,980 to $78,920 | 680 |
| New Hampshire | $57,290 | $48,030 to $68,080 | 260 |
| New Jersey | $60,720 | $51,590 to $77,260 | 750 |
| New Mexico | $56,210 | $45,760 to $68,480 | 610 |
| New York | $57,360 | $47,170 to $65,060 | 2,540 |
| North Carolina | $53,160 | $45,740 to $62,730 | 4,100 |
| North Dakota | $60,870 | $49,380 to $71,160 | 160 |
| Ohio | $60,330 | $48,170 to $72,760 | 1,350 |
| Oklahoma | $46,760 | $38,820 to $57,780 | 810 |
| Oregon | $55,790 | $47,390 to $63,100 | 1,280 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,270 | $46,350 to $70,260 | 1,340 |
| Puerto Rico | $32,370 | $28,810 to $42,390 | 90 |
| Rhode Island | $60,320 | $52,200 to $84,240 | 110 |
| South Carolina | $43,740 | $38,860 to $55,960 | 1,420 |
| South Dakota | $50,050 | $47,270 to $60,020 | 110 |
| Tennessee | $50,370 | $45,330 to $61,090 | 1,340 |
| Texas | $47,680 | $39,080 to $63,840 | 8,720 |
| Utah | $59,600 | $47,190 to $69,550 | 360 |
| Vermont | $56,460 | $51,110 to $69,630 | 40 |
| Virginia | $56,760 | $46,670 to $73,830 | 2,440 |
| Washington | $62,720 | $53,830 to $76,070 | 1,030 |
| West Virginia | $48,530 | $38,390 to $59,070 | 370 |
| Wisconsin | $59,080 | $51,400 to $65,450 | 660 |
| Wyoming | $58,220 | $52,000 to $71,660 | 150 |
Nationally: $54,240. 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 27 of its 30 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Calculate latitudes, longitudes, angles, areas, or other information for mapmaking, using survey field notes or reference tables. | Not published |
| AI + software | Enter Global Positioning System (GPS) data, legal deeds, field notes, or land survey reports into geographic information system (GIS) workstations so that information can be transformed into graphic land descriptions, such as maps and drawings. | Not published |
| AI + software | Collect information needed to carry out new surveys, using source maps, previous survey data, photographs, computer records, or other relevant information. | Not published |
| Not much | Conduct surveys to ascertain the locations of natural features and man-made structures on the Earth's surface, underground, and underwater, using electronic distance-measuring equipment, such as GPS, and other surveying instruments. | Not published |
| AI + software | Check all layers of maps to ensure accuracy, identifying and marking errors and making corrections. | Not published |
| AI + software | Identify and compile database information to create requested maps. | Not published |
See all 30 tasks
| AI + software | Monitor mapping work or the updating of maps to ensure accuracy, inclusion of new or changed information, or compliance with rules and regulations. | Not published |
| AI + software | Complete detailed source and method notes describing the location of routine or complex land parcels. | Not published |
| AI + software | Search for section corners, property irons, or survey points. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare topographic or contour maps of land surveyed, including site features and other relevant information, such as charts, drawings, and survey notes. | Not published |
| AI + software | Compile information necessary to stake projects for construction, using engineering plans. | Not published |
| AI + software | Set out and recover stakes, marks, or other monumentation. | Not published |
| AI + software | Compare topographical features or contour lines with images from aerial photographs, old maps, or other reference materials to verify the accuracy of their identification. | Not published |
| AI + software | Research and combine existing property information to describe property boundaries in relation to adjacent properties, taking into account parcel splits, combinations, or land boundary adjustments. | Not published |
| AI + software | Design or develop information databases that include geographic or topographic data. | under 0.01% |
| AI alone | Answer questions and provide information to the public or to staff members regarding assessment maps, surveys, boundaries, easements, property ownership, roads, zoning, or similar matters. | Not published |
| AI + software | Produce or update overlay maps to show information boundaries, water locations, or topographic features on various base maps or at different scales. | under 0.01% |
| AI alone | Provide assistance in the development of methods and procedures for conducting field surveys. | Not published |
| AI alone | Compare survey computations with applicable standards to determine adequacy of data. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Determine scales, line sizes, or colors to be used for hard copies of computerized maps, using plotters. | Not published |
| AI + software | Operate and manage land-information computer systems, performing tasks such as storing data, making inquiries, and producing plots and reports. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Record survey measurements or descriptive data, using notes, drawings, sketches, or inked tracings. | Not published |
| AI + software | Supervise or coordinate activities of workers engaged in surveying, plotting data, drafting maps, or producing blueprints, photostats, or photographs. | Not published |
| AI + software | Trace contours or topographic details to generate maps that denote specific land or property locations or geographic attributes. | Not published |
| Not much | Adjust and operate surveying instruments such as prisms, theodolites, electronic distance measuring equipment, or electronic data collectors. | Not published |
| Not much | Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations. | Not published |
| AI + software | Perform calculations to determine earth curvature corrections, atmospheric impacts on measurements, traverse closures or adjustments, azimuths, level runs, or placement of markers. | Not published |
| AI + software | Analyze aerial photographs to detect and interpret significant military, industrial, resource, or topographical data. | Not published |
| AI + software | Trim, align, and join prints to form photographic mosaics, maintaining scaled distances between reference points. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare cost estimates for mapping projects. | Not published |
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. 4 of the 30 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 30 tasks fall under 15 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.
- #5 Provide information or assistance to the public
- #13 Operate computer systems or computerized equipment
- #14 Create visual designs or displays
- and 2 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 | |||
| Create visual designs or displays | |||
| Gather data about operational or development activities | |||
| Provide information or assistance to the public | |||
| Operate computer systems or computerized equipment | |||
| Process digital or online data | |||
| Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data | |||
| Assist scientists, scholars, or technical specialists with projects or research |
Show all 15 activities
| Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data | |||
| Design computer or information systems or applications | |||
| Document technical designs, procedures, or activities | |||
| Estimate project development or operational costs | |||
| Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standards | |||
| Analyze environmental or geospatial data | |||
| Supervise personnel activities |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- An app or website22%
- A script or snippet13%
- Math or a calculation12%
- A document or report9%
- Data or a spreadsheet7%
How they worked with Claude
60% 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 surveying and mapping technicians 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 7,953 moves out
- 1 Computer Occupations, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 12%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 8%
- 3 Surveyors High +5.8% 3%
- 4 Office Clerks, General Very high -6.0% 2%
- 5 Drafters, All Other Very high -7.3% 2%
Where people moved in from
of 7,313 moves in
- 1 Computer Occupations, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 9%
- 2 Office Clerks, General Very high -6.0% 6%
- 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 4 Surveyors High +5.8% 3%
- 5 Retail Salespersons Very high -0.3% 2%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 5% less than high school
- 28% high school
- 39% some college
- 19% associate's
- 7% bachelor's
- 3% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 784 people surveyed.
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
3 programs: Surveying Technology/Surveying, Geography and Geographic Information Science and Cartography.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
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
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 4 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Surveying and Mapping Technicians” there.
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/17-3031.00