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Professional surveyor vs topographical surveyor

The differences between professional surveyors and topographical 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 professional surveyor and a topographical surveyor. Additionally, a topographical surveyor has an average salary of $54,768, which is higher than the $51,224 average annual salary of a professional surveyor.

The top three skills for a professional surveyor include survey data, legal descriptions and GPS. The most important skills for a topographical surveyor are survey data, GPS, and .

Professional surveyor vs topographical surveyor overview

Professional SurveyorTopographical Surveyor
Yearly salary$51,224$54,768
Hourly rate$24.63$26.33
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs45,0971,929
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age4444
Years of experience66

Professional surveyor vs topographical surveyor salary

Professional surveyors and topographical surveyors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Professional SurveyorTopographical Surveyor
Average salary$51,224$54,768
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $76,000Between $36,000 And $82,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between professional surveyor and topographical surveyor education

There are a few differences between a professional surveyor and a topographical surveyor in terms of educational background:

Professional SurveyorTopographical Surveyor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common majorSurveying, Mapping, And Hydraulic TechnologiesSurveying, Mapping, And Hydraulic Technologies
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborUniversity of Florida

Professional surveyor vs topographical surveyor demographics

Here are the differences between professional surveyors' and topographical surveyors' demographics:

Professional SurveyorTopographical Surveyor
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 73.5% Female, 26.5%Male, 78.1% Female, 21.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 4.9% White, 75.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 2.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 4.2% White, 78.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between professional surveyor and topographical surveyor duties and responsibilities

Professional surveyor example responsibilities.

  • Implement the use of GPS into the day to day survey operations.
  • Create and utilize geographic information systems (GIS) for various clients.
  • Adjust and operate surveying instruments such as prisms, theodolites, and electronicdistance-measuring equipment.
  • Interface with multiple legal, financial and governmental entities to meet requirements of approvals processes and finalize complex ALTA surveys.
  • Develop new data from photogrammetric records.

Topographical surveyor example responsibilities.

  • Collect, processes, analyzes and manages field data using GIS and spatial technologies.
  • Complete field work by inspecting dams, setting grade stakes, and updating property records using a Trimble R8 GNSS system.
  • Perform excellent outside sales serving thousands of Medicare and Medicaid members in multiple states promoting free delivery of prescription medications.

Professional surveyor vs topographical surveyor skills

Common professional surveyor skills
  • Survey Data, 25%
  • Legal Descriptions, 22%
  • GPS, 21%
  • Civil 3D, 12%
  • CAD, 4%
  • As-Built, 4%
Common topographical surveyor skills
  • Survey Data, 76%
  • GPS, 24%

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