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Surveying and mapping technician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$54,240median pay per year, or $26.08 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $37,520lowest 10% earn less
  2. $45,43025th percentile
  3. $54,240median
  4. $66,70075th percentile
  5. $81,630top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Surveying and mapping technicians earned a median of $54,240 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5.8%[2]
Openings per year
6,900[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do surveying and mapping technicians make?

The median wage was $54,240 a year, or $26.08 an hour[1]. The median splits workers into two equal groups, with half paid above it and half below[1]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[4]. The average was higher than the median, at $58,000 a year or $27.89 an hour[7].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][8] $37,520 $18.04
25th[3][8] $45,430 $21.84
Median[1] $54,240 $26.08
75th[3][8] $66,700 $32.07
90th[3][8] $81,630 $39.24

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,520[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

The figures cover part-time and full-time wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].

Pay by state and city

California had the highest median among states with published data, at $78,110[11]. Alaska followed at $76,970 and Minnesota at $73,190[11]. South Carolina had the lowest listed median, at $43,740[11].

Texas had the most jobs, 8,720[12]. Florida had 4,810, North Carolina 4,100, California 3,340 and New York 2,540[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had the top median at $92,700[13]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont came next at $84,360, then Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom at $81,120[13]. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands had the most jobs, 2,650, with a median of $49,570[14].

Show median pay in 50 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[11]$78,1103,340
Alaska$76,970300
Minnesota$73,1901,060
Washington$62,7201,030
Maryland$61,600470
North Dakota$60,870160
New Jersey$60,720750
Montana$60,330430
Ohio$60,3301,350
Rhode Island$60,320110
Utah$59,600360
Wisconsin$59,080660
Iowa$58,950390
Connecticut$58,900380
Nevada$58,790680
Massachusetts$58,730640
Pennsylvania$58,2701,340
Wyoming$58,220150
Colorado$57,8902,340
Illinois$57,4701,110
New York$57,3602,540
New Hampshire$57,290260
Delaware$57,130180
Virginia$56,7602,440
Maine$56,470220
Vermont$56,46040
Indiana$56,4401,060
New Mexico$56,210610
Oregon$55,7901,280
Hawaii$55,580140
Arizona$54,080700
North Carolina$53,1604,100
Idaho$52,630450
Missouri$51,700720
Kansas$50,900730
Tennessee$50,3701,340
Michigan$50,340690
South Dakota$50,050110
Louisiana$49,440930
Georgia$48,8101,890
West Virginia$48,530370
Nebraska$48,080770
Florida$48,0404,810
Texas$47,6808,720
Mississippi$47,320550
Oklahoma$46,760810
Alabama$46,4501,320
Arkansas$46,370810
Kentucky$46,050920
South Carolina$43,7401,420

How to become a surveying and mapping technician

The typical path, from BLS[6]:

High school math such as algebra, geometry and trigonometry is a useful start. Drafting, mechanical drawing and computer science courses may also help[17].

Technicians may start with simple tasks like placing markers and entering data, then take on more[16]. Mapping technicians are taught how maps are made and stored in databases[16].

Certification is optional and can help show skill in a specialty[18]. Employers may prefer a valid driver's license[19]. Licensing is not required for these workers[20]. Technicians with many years of experience and formal surveying training may be able to become licensed surveyors[20].

What surveying and mapping technicians do

They usually work with guidance from an engineer, surveyor, cartographer or photogrammetrist, gathering data used for construction, mapmaking, boundary location and mining[21]. Typical tasks include[22]:

BLS lists skills such as following instructions, attention to detail and problem-solving[23][24][25]. Workers may also need to carry equipment and stand for much of the day[26].

Where they work

Many work for firms that sell engineering, surveying and mapping services on contract[27]. Architectural, engineering and related services employed the largest share, 60% in 2025[28]. In local governments, they may work in highway or planning departments[27]. About 1.1% were self-employed in 2025[29].

Work mixes office time with fieldwork outdoors in all kinds of weather[30]. Fieldwork can mean long travel, long periods standing and walking over rough ground[30]. Most work full time, and some put in over 40 hours a week[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 58,800 to 62,200 jobs, a gain of 3,400[2]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[32]. The OEWS count for May 2025 was about 58,010 wage and salary jobs[33].

About 6,900 openings a year are projected on average[5]. They come from retirements and moves to other occupations as well as new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 7.4% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The median of $54,240 was a bit above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][4]. The 90th percentile was $81,630[3]. Entry needs a high school diploma and no related experience[6]. Fieldwork can be physically demanding[26][30]. Growth is projected faster than for all occupations[2][32]. Pay varies a lot by state, so local numbers matter[11].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a surveying and mapping technician make an hour?
The median was $26.08 an hour in May 2025[1].
What education do you need to work as a surveying and mapping technician?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with moderate-term on-the-job training[6].
Do surveying and mapping technicians need a license?
Licensing is not required for these workers[20].
Is this job in demand?
BLS projects 5.8% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, and about 6,900 openings a year[2][32][5].
What is the highest paying state for surveying and mapping technicians?
California, with a median of $78,110[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in the US was $54,240 per year and $26.08 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Surveying and Mapping Technicians is projected to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 58,800 to 62,200 jobs (a change of +3,400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Surveying and Mapping Technicians: 10th percentile $37,520, 25th percentile $45,430, 75th percentile $66,700, 90th percentile $81,630. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 6,900 openings for Surveying and Mapping Technicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Surveying and Mapping Technicians: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians was $58,000 per year and $27.89 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Surveying and Mapping Technicians: 10th percentile $18.04, 25th percentile $21.84, 75th percentile $32.07, 90th percentile $39.24. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Surveying and Mapping Technicians jobs: Texas 8,720; Florida 4,810; North Carolina 4,100; California 3,340; New York 2,540. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $92,700; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $84,360; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $81,120; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $78,110; Anchorage, AK $76,970; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $76,560; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $76,140; Reno, NV $73,320. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Surveying and Mapping Technicians jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 2,650 (median $49,570); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,010 (median $45,460); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,930 (median $57,530); Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 1,510 (median $57,890); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 1,280 (median $48,810); Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX 1,170 (median $48,160). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET description of Surveying and Mapping Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET task list for Surveying and Mapping Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of surveying and mapping technicians in 2025: Architectural, engineering, and related services 60%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Employment Projections: 1.1% of Surveying and Mapping Technicians were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 58,010 people were employed as Surveying and Mapping Technicians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Surveying and Mapping Technicians: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.