Geodetic Surveyors

Employers

There are approximately 50,740 surveyors employed in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, about 76 percent of surveyors in the United States are employed in engineering, architectural, and surveying firms. Local and state government agencies are the next largest employers of surveying workers, and the majority of the remaining surveyors work for construction firms. A small percentage are employed by mine, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction companies, and very few surveyors are self-employed.

Starting Out

Geodetic surveyors who have apprenticeship experience may start as equipment operators or surveying assistants. Those with college education have improved job prospects, however, and are often able to find positions as surveying and mapping technicians. College graduates learn about job openings through their schools' career services offices or through potential employers that may visit their campus. They may also find work through online employment agencies that specialize in seeking out workers for positions in surveying and related fields.