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Surveyor helper vs professional surveyor

The differences between surveyor helpers and professional 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 surveyor helper and a professional surveyor. Additionally, a surveyor helper has an average salary of $53,025, which is higher than the $51,224 average annual salary of a professional surveyor.

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

Surveyor helper vs professional surveyor overview

Surveyor HelperProfessional Surveyor
Yearly salary$53,025$51,224
Hourly rate$25.49$24.63
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs16,35245,097
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age4444
Years of experience66

Surveyor helper vs professional surveyor salary

Surveyor helpers and professional surveyors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Surveyor HelperProfessional Surveyor
Average salary$53,025$51,224
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $80,000Between $34,000 And $76,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between surveyor helper and professional surveyor education

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

Surveyor HelperProfessional Surveyor
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorDrafting And DesignSurveying, Mapping, And Hydraulic Technologies
Most common collegePennsylvania State UniversityUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Surveyor helper vs professional surveyor demographics

Here are the differences between surveyor helpers' and professional surveyors' demographics:

Surveyor HelperProfessional Surveyor
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 89.2% Female, 10.8%Male, 73.5% Female, 26.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.7% Asian, 4.9% White, 75.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black 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%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between surveyor helper and professional surveyor duties and responsibilities

Surveyor helper 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.
  • File all log sheets and produce a final project book and interactive CD-ROM.
  • Perform excellent outside sales serving thousands of Medicare and Medicaid members in multiple states promoting free delivery of prescription medications.

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.

Surveyor helper vs professional surveyor skills

Common surveyor helper skills
  • GPS, 24%
  • Tripods, 12%
  • Prism, 11%
  • Theodolites, 11%
  • Property Corners, 10%
  • Property Lines, 9%
Common professional surveyor skills
  • Survey Data, 25%
  • Legal Descriptions, 22%
  • GPS, 21%
  • Civil 3D, 12%
  • CAD, 4%
  • As-Built, 4%

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