Surveyors

Employers

There are approximately 52,600 surveyors employed in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 73 percent of surveyors in the United States are employed by engineering, architectural, and surveying firms. The construction sector and federal, state, and local government agencies are the next largest employers of surveyors, and the majority of the remaining surveyors work for construction firms, oil and gas extraction companies, and public utilities. Only 3.1 percent of surveyors are self-employed.

Starting Out

Apprentices with a high school education can enter the field as equipment operators or surveying assistants. Those who have completed postsecondary education can enter the field more easily, beginning as surveying and mapping technicians.

College graduates can learn about job openings through their schools' career services offices or through potential employers that may visit their campus. Many cities have employment agencies that specialize in seeking workers for positions in surveying and related fields.