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The differences between instrument operators and land survey technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a land survey technician has an average salary of $45,850, which is higher than the $43,179 average annual salary of an instrument operator.
The top three skills for an instrument operator include GPS, survey equipment and data collection. The most important skills for a land survey technician are GPS, CAD, and civil 3d.
| Instrument Operator | Land Survey Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $43,179 | $45,850 |
| Hourly rate | $20.76 | $22.04 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 29,503 | 10,634 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Instrument operators assist a construction or surveying crew in the assessment of topography. The operators provide assistance in clearing obstructions from any instrument. They take GPS shots while operating the crew as party chief. These professionals work under the supervision of surveyors and licensed engineers performing GPS and boundary surveys. They can be considered as specialists in tree tagging, environmental protection, and personal property surveying. The scope of their duties also includes data collection, construction surveys, and civil engineering.
A land survey technician is responsible for monitoring and inspecting different construction sites. Their job is to take measurements and gather other data. They need to have an inventory of different locations or sites and gather essential information for development purposes. They must also identify possible barriers to development in the area, including who will be affected by conducting a thorough land survey. Often, they work for a mapping or engineering company.
Instrument operators and land survey technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Instrument Operator | Land Survey Technician | |
| Average salary | $43,179 | $45,850 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $62,000 | Between $31,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Southern California Edison |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between an instrument operator and a land survey technician in terms of educational background:
| Instrument Operator | Land Survey Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between instrument operators' and land survey technicians' demographics:
| Instrument Operator | Land Survey Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.0% Female, 7.0% | Male, 62.4% Female, 37.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 74.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.0% Asian, 3.2% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |