Geodetic Surveyors Career, Salary and Skills
Geodetic Surveyors have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $75,440 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 50,830. Wage data is published for 265 locations.
Occupation description
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
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$75,440
Hourly median
$36.27
Employment
50,830
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 4.12 | 4.88 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.38 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Writing | 3.62 | 4.12 |
| Speaking | 3.38 | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | 3.38 | 3.88 |
| Active Learning | 3.38 | 4.12 |
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.
Technology
- Advanced Graphics Technology ProCogo
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk CAiCE Visual Transportation
- Bentley MicroStation
- C#
- C++
- Carlson Civil Suite
- Carlson Simplicity Sight Survey
- CMT CogoCAD
- Email software
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- ESRI ArcView
- Geo-Plus
Geodetic Surveyors salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Geodetic Surveyors Salary in TXMedian $61,150 · Employment 6,410
- Geodetic Surveyors Salary in CAMedian $105,330 · Employment 4,520
- Geodetic Surveyors Salary in FLMedian $65,480 · Employment 4,000
- Geodetic Surveyors Salary in Houston, TXMedian $62,960 · Employment 1,960
- Geodetic Surveyors Salary in GAMedian $58,100 · Employment 1,770
- Geodetic Surveyors Salary in ILMedian $75,980 · Employment 1,710
- Geodetic Surveyors Salary in COMedian $79,310 · Employment 1,620
- Geodetic Surveyors Salary in PAMedian $75,950 · Employment 1,610
- Geodetic Surveyors Salary in NCMedian $76,210 · Employment 1,530
- Geodetic Surveyors Salary in NYMedian $78,870 · Employment 1,470
- Geodetic Surveyors Salary in LAMedian $63,140 · Employment 1,460
- Geodetic Surveyors Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $66,030 · Employment 1,400
Related careers
- Atmospheric and Space ScientistsNational median $99,070
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansNational median $78,190
- Statistical AssistantsNational median $50,330
- Traffic TechniciansNational median $59,090
- GeographersNational median $102,040
- Civil EngineersNational median $100,840
- Architectural and Civil DraftersNational median $66,150
- Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansNational median $64,950
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.