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The differences between land surveyors and professional land surveyors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a land surveyor and a professional land surveyor. Additionally, a professional land surveyor has an average salary of $47,097, 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 professional land surveyor are GPS, civil 3d, and PLS.
| Land Surveyor | Professional Land Surveyor | |
| Yearly salary | $46,182 | $47,097 |
| Hourly rate | $22.20 | $22.64 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 4,717 | 47,350 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
Professional land surveyors have skills in reading comprehension, mathematics, listening, speaking, and time management, as well as a keen attention to detail. These traits are needed for the tasks of this chosen career, which include updating boundary lines for construction in order to prevent legal disputes. Land surveyors also oversee the provision of relevant data on the shape and contour of the surface of the Earth for projects ranging from engineering to mapmaking to construction.
Land surveyors and professional land surveyors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Land Surveyor | Professional Land Surveyor | |
| Average salary | $46,182 | $47,097 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $66,000 | Between $31,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Walnut Creek, CA | Eureka, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Adobe | Amd |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a land surveyor and a professional land surveyor in terms of educational background:
| Land Surveyor | Professional Land Surveyor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Surveying, Mapping, And Hydraulic Technologies |
| Most common college | Pennsylvania State University | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between land surveyors' and professional land surveyors' demographics:
| Land Surveyor | Professional Land Surveyor | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1% | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |