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The differences between land surveyors and geospatial engineers 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 a geospatial engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a geospatial engineer has an average salary of $92,650, which is higher than the $46,182 average annual salary of a land surveyor.
The top three skills for a land surveyor include GPS, data collection and topographic surveys. The most important skills for a geospatial engineer are disaster relief, intelligence data, and digital data.
| Land Surveyor | Geospatial Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $46,182 | $92,650 |
| Hourly rate | $22.20 | $44.54 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 4,717 | 178,326 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| 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.
Geospatial engineers are known to be recent additions to the engineering family. Their tasks include producing up to date plans, computer-based measuring to map the best position, and providing control point to monitor the future movements of structures like a bridge. They specialize in photogrammetry and remote sensing. They perform basic geographic information systems on navigational data and coastal areas, collect and organize digital features in the geospatial database, and provide imagery and geospatial products to support multiple joint military operations.
Land surveyors and geospatial engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Land Surveyor | Geospatial Engineer | |
| Average salary | $46,182 | $92,650 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $66,000 | Between $64,000 And $132,000 |
| Highest paying City | Walnut Creek, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Adobe | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a land surveyor and a geospatial engineer in terms of educational background:
| Land Surveyor | Geospatial Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Geography |
| Most common college | Pennsylvania State University | Dartmouth College |
Here are the differences between land surveyors' and geospatial engineers' demographics:
| Land Surveyor | Geospatial Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1% | Male, 82.1% Female, 17.9% |
| 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, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 26.2% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 8% |