Geodetic Surveyors — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$75,440
United States, 2025
Employment
50,830
United States, 2025
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Job Zone 4
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Measure large areas of the Earth's surface using satellite observations, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), light detection and ranging (LIDAR), or related sources.
- O*NET code
- 17-1022.01
- Job zone
- 4
- Experience required
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Typical tasks
- Prepare progress or technical reports.
- Analyze control or survey data to ensure adherence to project specifications or land survey standards.
- Conduct surveys to determine exact positions, measurement of points, elevations, lines, areas, volumes, contours, or other features of land surfaces.
- Calculate the exact horizontal and vertical position of points on the Earth's surface.
- Maintain databases of geodetic and related information, including coordinate, descriptive, or quality assurance data.
- Verify the mathematical correctness of newly collected survey data.
- Compute horizontal and vertical coordinates of control networks, using direct leveling or other geodetic survey techniques, such as triangulation, trilateration, and traversing, to establish features of the Earth's surface.
- Plan or direct the work of geodetic surveying staff, providing technical consultation as needed.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$46,880
25th percentile
$58,170
75th percentile
$98,130
90th percentile
$125,590
Most important skills
- Mathematics4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Writing3.6
- Active Learning3.4
- Monitoring3.4
- Speaking3.4
- Systems Evaluation3.1
- Science3.1
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 16 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
16
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 4.1 | 4.9 | Not selected | 4.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.6 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.4 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.4 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Science | 3.1 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Instructing | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $78,190
Compare with Geodetic SurveyorsSupplemental
National median $64,950
Compare with Geodetic SurveyorsSupplemental
National median $67,820
Compare with Geodetic SurveyorsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuba City, CA | $133,270 | 50 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | $128,600 | 370 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $125,060 | 630 | 2025 |
| Redding, CA | $124,160 | 40 | 2025 |
| Vallejo, CA | $123,590 | 50 | 2025 |
| Stockton, CA | $120,000 | 40 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | $117,160 | 170 | 2025 |
| Kennewick, WA | $111,400 | 30 | 2025 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $107,700 | 80 | 2025 |
| Fresno, CA | $107,230 | 190 | 2025 |
| Bellingham, WA | $106,590 | 40 | 2025 |
| CA | $105,330 | 4,520 | 2025 |
| Salem, OR | $102,880 | 60 | 2025 |
| Fargo, ND | $102,270 | 60 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | $102,210 | 430 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $101,950 | 970 | 2025 |
| Anchorage, AK | $101,820 | 170 | 2025 |
| Salinas, CA | $101,120 | 40 | 2025 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $100,930 | 100 | 2025 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $100,920 | 130 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Geodetic Surveyors to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.