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The differences between land surveyors and survey managers 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 survey manager. Additionally, a survey manager has an average salary of $50,706, 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 survey manager are GPS, civil 3d, and data collection.
| Land Surveyor | Survey Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $46,182 | $50,706 |
| Hourly rate | $22.20 | $24.38 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 4,717 | 2,935 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| 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.
Survey managers lead the team on survey plans associated with engineering or construction projects and oversee construction sites. Their responsibilities include preparing contracts and reports, presenting right-of-way plans, and performing fieldwork. They need to take measurements of property boundaries. They research the history of the land for survey records, legal records, and information about the property. Additionally, managers provide construction crew, contractors, and clients with a detailed description of a land's characteristics and features. They must be skilled at using mapping programs and computers.
Land surveyors and survey managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Land Surveyor | Survey Manager | |
| Average salary | $46,182 | $50,706 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $66,000 | Between $33,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | Walnut Creek, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Adobe | Bowman Consulting Group |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a land surveyor and a survey manager in terms of educational background:
| Land Surveyor | Survey Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| 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 survey managers' demographics:
| Land Surveyor | Survey Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1% | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |