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The differences between land surveyors and survey party chiefs 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 party chief. Additionally, a land surveyor has an average salary of $46,182, which is higher than the $45,923 average annual salary of a survey party chief.
The top three skills for a land surveyor include GPS, data collection and topographic surveys. The most important skills for a survey party chief are GPS, survey party, and survey equipment.
| Land Surveyor | Survey Party Chief | |
| Yearly salary | $46,182 | $45,923 |
| Hourly rate | $22.20 | $22.08 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 4,717 | 15,901 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| 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 party chiefs are individuals distinguished from an engineering technician class. The chiefs supervise land surveys, plan, and assess the proposed field survey projects. They gather field data using the necessary equipment. Their job involves managing equipment logistics, travel-related budgets, and recruiting local staff. They perform work on several highway projects like fills and cuts, bridgework, and centerline layouts. Also, they execute data analysis and offer recommendations for the expansion of military bases and to achieve runway capabilities.
Land surveyors and survey party chiefs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Land Surveyor | Survey Party Chief | |
| Average salary | $46,182 | $45,923 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $66,000 | Between $31,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Walnut Creek, CA | Jackson, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Adobe | Bowman Consulting Group |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a land surveyor and a survey party chief in terms of educational background:
| Land Surveyor | Survey Party Chief | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| 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 party chiefs' demographics:
| Land Surveyor | Survey Party Chief | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1% | Male, 96.7% Female, 3.3% |
| 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, 10.8% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |