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The differences between land surveyors and appraisers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a land surveyor, becoming an appraiser takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a land surveyor has an average salary of $46,182, which is higher than the $42,223 average annual salary of an appraiser.
The top three skills for a land surveyor include GPS, data collection and topographic surveys. The most important skills for an appraiser are commercial property, appraisal reports, and customer service.
| Land Surveyor | Appraiser | |
| Yearly salary | $46,182 | $42,223 |
| Hourly rate | $22.20 | $20.30 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 4,717 | 1,186 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 44 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
Land surveyors are skilled professionals who measure land areas to determine the boundaries of properties and present findings to their clients and government agencies. To make the precise boundary calculations, these surveyors are required to use sophisticated field equipment such as high order global positioning system (GPS), theodolites, and aerial or terrestrial scanners. They must record the results of their surveying and establish official land and water boundaries for deeds, leases, and other legal documents. Land surveyors must also provide relevant data that shape and contour the surface of the earth for engineering, mapmaking, and construction projects.
An appraiser is someone who assesses the monetary value of a property such as an automobile, real property, and personal claim. His/Her or her responsibilities include resolving disparities between a property's monetary values and preparing narrative reports for projects. The essential skills that an appraiser should possess to accomplish such responsibilities include a keen eye for details, strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills, and the ability to work under pressure. The education requirements for the job vary depending on the area of focus.
Land surveyors and appraisers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Land Surveyor | Appraiser | |
| Average salary | $46,182 | $42,223 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $66,000 | Between $29,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Walnut Creek, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Adobe | City National Bank |
| Best paying industry | - | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a land surveyor and an appraiser in terms of educational background:
| Land Surveyor | Appraiser | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Pennsylvania State University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between land surveyors' and appraisers' demographics:
| Land Surveyor | Appraiser | |
| Average age | 44 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1% | Male, 67.8% Female, 32.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 6.8% Asian, 2.9% White, 81.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 8% |