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ConstructionTop JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.Critical OccupationOccupation identified by industry partners as critical to business success.

Surveying and Mapping Technicians

Perform surveying and mapping duties, usually under the direction of an engineer, surveyor, cartographer, or photogrammetrist, to obtain data used for construction, mapmaking, boundary location, mining, or other purposes. May calculate mapmaking information and create maps from source data, such as surveying notes, aerial photography, satellite data, or other maps to show topographical features, political boundaries, and other features. May verify accuracy and completeness of maps.

Annual openings

392

Median wage

$57,890

Typical education

Usually an Associate's degree, though some people work themselves up to this job from within the industry, possibly through an apprenticeship.

Growth 2026–2032

+7%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

Usually an Associate's degree, though some people work themselves up to this job from within the industry, possibly through an apprenticeship.

Credential requirement

Credential requirements not reported

Work experience

No previous work experience is required, though previous construction experience is valued.

Surveyors and Surveying Technicians often work as a small team to prepare for a bigger construction project. Both jobs are in high demand in the Construction and Broadband industries.
Jobs as Field Stakers are sometimes available on big construction projects. It helps to have previous construction experience as well as experience reading construction plans.
Surveying jobs are evolving, incorporating technology like rovers, GIS and GPS.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Work style

The type of work can vary by job and employer.

  • With childrenNo
  • On a computerMay vary
  • OutdoorsMay vary
  • With your handsMay vary

Interests it draws on

  • Trades
  • Surveyor

Automation exposure

Moderate exposure

Some routine tasks may shift as tools improve, but the role is likely to adapt.

A typical day

  1. Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations.
  2. Check all layers of maps to ensure accuracy, identifying and marking errors and making corrections.
  3. Design or develop information databases that include geographic or topographic data.
  4. Monitor mapping work or the updating of maps to ensure accuracy, inclusion of new or changed information, or compliance with rules and regulations.
  5. Produce or update overlay maps to show information boundaries, water locations, or topographic features on various base maps or at different scales.
  6. Determine scales, line sizes, or colors to be used for hard copies of computerized maps, using plotters.
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