How to hire a land surveyor

How to hire a land surveyor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step land surveyor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a land surveyor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new land surveyor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a land surveyor do?

Post a land surveyor job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your land surveyor job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a land surveyor for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a land surveyor to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a land surveyor that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of land surveyors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Land Surveyor	Description	Hourly rate
   Land Surveyor	Surveyors make precise measurements to determine property boundaries. They provide data relevant to the shape and contour of the Earth’s surface for engineering, mapmaking, and construction projects.	$14-31
   Party Chief	A party chief is a management position responsible for leading and guiding a program and providing leadership for its success. To fill this role, you will manage the program and provide overall technical expertise... Show more	$14-31
   Instrument Person	An instrument person is also called a survey party chief. They are responsible for preparing and conducting surveys before a particular land is constructed and developed... Show more	$14-30

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • GPS
   • Data Collection
   • Topographic Surveys
   • Survey Data
   • Boundary Surveys
   • Civil 3D
   • Legal Descriptions
   • Survey Equipment
   • Construction Layout
   • GIS
   • As-Built Surveys
   • Conduct Surveys
   • Property Lines
   • Trimble Gps

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Utilize GPS technology to manage a two man robotic crew assign to residential/ commercial development projects.
   • Operate survey robotic instruments (Leica TPS1200), data collectors (Carlson, TDS).
   • Hire and train tribal members in using GPS and conventional survey equipment to assist perform field surveys of vary complexity.
   • Finalize plans through AutoCAD and Carlson software.
   • Used a Leica total station with TDS software.
   • Stake commodities and existing underground using Trimble GNSS equipment.

   More land surveyor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the land surveyor job description is a good way to get more applicants. A land surveyor salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a land surveyor in Michigan may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level land surveyor. Additionally, a land surveyor with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average land surveyor salary

   $46,182yearly

   $22.20 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level land surveyor salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average land surveyor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$81,571	$39
   2	New York	$62,570	$30
   3	North Dakota	$52,697	$25
   4	New Mexico	$52,119	$25
   5	Ohio	$49,371	$24
   6	Arkansas	$46,762	$22
   7	Illinois	$46,712	$22
   8	West Virginia	$46,611	$22
   9	Alaska	$46,260	$22
   10	Colorado	$46,244	$22
   11	Florida	$46,187	$22
   12	Texas	$46,126	$22
   13	Iowa	$45,351	$22
   14	Hawaii	$45,048	$22
   15	Virginia	$44,273	$21
   16	Arizona	$43,568	$21
   17	Idaho	$43,148	$21
   18	South Carolina	$42,379	$20
   19	South Dakota	$42,221	$20
   20	North Carolina	$41,777	$20

   Average land surveyor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Adobe	$104,513	$50.25	2
   2	Southern California Edison	$92,556	$44.50
   3	Jacobs Engineering Group	$77,436	$37.23
   4	Ciorba Group	$75,678	$36.38
   5	DiPrete Engineering	$75,370	$36.24
   6	Gewalt Hamilton Associates	$75,044	$36.08	2
   7	Halff Associates	$74,371	$35.76	5
   8	Widseth Smith Nolting	$73,779	$35.47	7
   9	Wallace Design Collective	$73,719	$35.44
   10	Shive-Hattery	$73,150	$35.17	4
   11	Langan	$72,888	$35.04	34
   12	Psomas	$72,370	$34.79	5
   13	Dewberry	$71,299	$34.28	28
   14	Tetra Tech	$71,297	$34.28	5
   15	Kimley-Horn	$71,060	$34.16	38
   16	GPAC	$67,437	$32.42
   17	CenterPoint Energy	$65,422	$31.45
   18	Intertek	$64,988	$31.24
   19	Kiewit	$64,924	$31.21	62
   20	Ramaker	$64,837	$31.17

4. Writing a land surveyor job description

   A job description for a land surveyor role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a land surveyor job description:

   Land surveyor job description example

   The Associate Land Surveyor will work hand in hand with Survey Field Crews by taking the information collected in the field to draft various Topographic Surveys, Boundary Surveys, ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys, Easement and Boundary Plats according to Company and Project Specific Municipality Standards. Associate Land Surveyors also prepare and create full Civil3D Drawings beginning from field data points, generate surfaces and contours, calculate boundary lines from record maps and Grant Deed descriptions. Associate Land Surveyors play a key role in delivering maps and documents necessary to memorialize land ownership and land use.
   WHAT YOU'LL DO ESSENTIAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Perform topographic, property, geodetic, and construction surveys Prepare the points for CAD Designers and Technicians Review, perform, and create exhibits for right-of-way and facility boundary retracement surveys, including encroachment and right-of- way marking surveys Research government agency, state, county, or city records for information concerning surveys Inspect and verify survey deliverables for accuracy and correctness Perform complex computations and analysis using technical software, Trimble Business Center, etc. Coordinate and support the collections of field survey data for various projects Check and review Records of Survey, Boundary Line adjustments, Partition Plats, and other official documents in accordance with organizational standards, to be recorded at various federal, state and county government offices Complete associated documentation and archiving, such as control and alignment reports Works with other disciplines across offices to perform design and construction tasks Maintain land survey databases and validate data quality of information entered Assist with process improvement efforts and associated administrative tasks Perform internal land survey and real property records research, and coordinate with the public and other government agencies regarding requests for information Assist in training Survey Designers with AutoCAD and QK standards for drafting projects Other duties as assigned or as needed in order to successfully complete project deliverables or meet internal goals WHO WE NEED ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES Knowledge of professional surveying practices and procedures; state and federal laws affecting land surveying and boundaries is required. Familiar with the operation and maintenance of Trimble total stations, GPS equipment, and electronic levels and other various
   measuring instruments is required. Familiar with state plane coordinates, horizontal & vertical datums, network adjustments (least squares), and geodetic & GNSS
   surveying is required. Familiar with electronic data collection systems and processes is required; must be able to download and process data files, perform complex survey computations using various software packages (i.e., Trimble Business Center, OPUS, NGS tools, Microsoft Office) Ability to understand scopes of work, schedules, and technical specifications for complex surveying projects Ability to read and interpret engineering plans, specifications, plats, maps and other related documents Ability to work well with others as a team member, and alone Ability to communicate well with other staff to accomplish team goals Visual acuity and manual dexterity Ability to perform repetitive wrist and hand motions required Ability to sit or stand for extended periods PREFERRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES Drive to be helpful to internal team members and external clients Ability to create strong relationships, including one of a mentor/protégé capacity Proven ability to successfully work against a deadline and within constrained budgets Ability to motivate others Strong critical thinking skills that allow for collaborative innovation in problem solving and project planning Ability to teach junior staff both agency and company standards Ability to drive one's own career path, develop relationships with mentors, and seek opportunities for growth Able to remain flexible with the everchanging workload, working conditions and project/agency requirements Natural ability to expand skills and knowledge through company training resources and independent direction Requirements: EDUCATION Graduate from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor of Science degree in Land Surveying, Civil Engineering or related field LSIT required EXPERIENCE One (1) year practical experience in the survey field Demonstrated experience in and expert knowledge of laws affecting land surveying and boundaries is preferred.
   ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS The Associate Land Surveyor works closely with the survey team by providing drafting assistance and support. The Associate Land Surveyor should have a strong working relationship with the entire survey team, both locally and companywide. The Associate Land Surveyor will also provide training and advice to junior staff and may act as a Teaming Advisor when necessary. Associate Land Surveyors are expected work with all survey team members as well as other staff throughout the entire firm in order to promote our One Company philosophy.
   QK understands that solutions for today's challenges require innovation created by sharing diverse perspectives openly and safely, which is why we celebrate and cultivate diversity and our inclusive environment.
   QK is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination of any kind. QK provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, etc. All employment decisions are based on qualification, merit, and business needs. QK encourages all qualified applicants to apply.
   Applicants must be fully authorized to work in the U.S. and physically be in the U.S.
   Please no calls, emails, or additional contact for inquiry. Our HR team will be in contact with you if we need additional information or wish to schedule an interview with you.
   NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES Please note that QK does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Fee Agreement, QK will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, QK explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of QK.
   PM22
   
   PI193637472

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right land surveyor for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your land surveyor job on Zippia to find and recruit land surveyor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with land surveyor candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new land surveyor

   Once you've selected the best land surveyor candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new land surveyor. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a land surveyor?