Post job

Enumerator vs surveyor

The differences between enumerators and surveyors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an enumerator, becoming a surveyor takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a surveyor has an average salary of $46,875, which is higher than the $43,133 average annual salary of an enumerator.

The top three skills for an enumerator include census data, confidentiality laws and conduct interviews. The most important skills for a surveyor are GPS, survey data, and data collection.

Enumerator vs surveyor overview

EnumeratorSurveyor
Yearly salary$43,133$46,875
Hourly rate$20.74$22.54
Growth rate-1%
Number of jobs56,2474,087
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age4244
Years of experience26

What does an enumerator do?

An enumerator primarily functions to gather census data within a particular area and time frame. Most of the duties will revolve around conducting door-to-door interviews, asking a set of specific questions, performing follow-up calls and correspondence, thoroughly explaining the purpose of the visit, and accurately recording gathered information to export to a database. Should there be any errors or inconsistencies, an enumerator must perform corrective measures right away. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with managers or supervisors daily and report any issues or concerns.

What does a surveyor do?

A surveyor is responsible for measuring the physical boundaries of a property based on the design documents. Surveyors' duties include determining reference points using special measuring equipment, analyzing land records, evaluating the stability of the property location, verifying data to property agencies and other organizations, responding to the client's inquiries, processing legal property documents, and finalizing boundary lines and maps. A surveyor must have a broad knowledge of the land and property processes, as well as excellent research and analytical skills.

Enumerator vs surveyor salary

Enumerators and surveyors have different pay scales, as shown below.

EnumeratorSurveyor
Average salary$43,133$46,875
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $70,000Between $32,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City-San Diego, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-The Citadel
Best paying industry--

Differences between enumerator and surveyor education

There are a few differences between an enumerator and a surveyor in terms of educational background:

EnumeratorSurveyor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityPennsylvania State University

Enumerator vs surveyor demographics

Here are the differences between enumerators' and surveyors' demographics:

EnumeratorSurveyor
Average age4244
Gender ratioMale, 38.7% Female, 61.3%Male, 72.4% Female, 27.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 4.5% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 4.9% White, 76.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%7%

Differences between enumerator and surveyor duties and responsibilities

Enumerator example responsibilities.

  • Lead territory HUD quality control study of rent calculations.
  • Used tools such as shovels, Pulaski's, post pounders, pliers.
  • Follow up on non-response households by conducting census.
  • Used research and organization skills to enter relevant data.
  • Complete and comply with CSX, MSDS and FRA currency testing as needed.
  • Maintain landscaping for residential and commercial grounds to include: mowing, planting, pruning, and mulching.
  • Show more

Surveyor example responsibilities.

  • Utilize GPS technology to manage a two man robotic crew assign to residential/ commercial development projects.
  • Assist the PLS with ALTAs, B2, legals, exhibits, topo s and plats drawing and field work.
  • Set up and run instruments.
  • Work with Trimble GNSS surveying systems.
  • Survey of proposal access roads by RTK method.
  • Create alignment sheets in Carlson from survey base files.
  • Show more

Enumerator vs surveyor skills

Common enumerator skills
  • Census Data, 18%
  • Confidentiality Laws, 15%
  • Conduct Interviews, 9%
  • Paper Forms, 9%
  • Accuracy Standards, 8%
  • Quality Control Verification, 6%
Common surveyor skills
  • GPS, 16%
  • Survey Data, 9%
  • Data Collection, 6%
  • Survey Equipment, 6%
  • Civil 3D, 6%
  • Customer Service, 5%

Browse office and administrative jobs