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The differences between land surveyors and survey project 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 project manager. Additionally, a survey project manager has an average salary of $60,193, 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 project manager are civil 3d, GPS, and project management.
| Land Surveyor | Survey Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $46,182 | $60,193 |
| Hourly rate | $22.20 | $28.94 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 4,717 | 97,606 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| 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.
A survey project manager is responsible for making measurements and determining property boundaries. You will prepare data related to the contour, location, shape, dimension, elevation, and gravitation of land or land features. Typical day-to-day duties include coordinating findings with the work of architectural and engineering personnel, clients, and other stakeholders, developing criteria for survey procedures and methods, and preparing sketches, reports, legal descriptions, and maps of surveys. As a survey project manager, you are also responsible for developing criteria for designing and modifying survey instruments.
Land surveyors and survey project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Land Surveyor | Survey Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $46,182 | $60,193 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $66,000 | Between $42,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Walnut Creek, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Adobe | Berklee College of Music |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a land surveyor and a survey project manager in terms of educational background:
| Land Surveyor | Survey Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Surveying, Mapping, And Hydraulic Technologies |
| Most common college | Pennsylvania State University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between land surveyors' and survey project managers' demographics:
| Land Surveyor | Survey Project Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1% | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% |
| 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, 3.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |