How to hire a surveyor instrument assistant

How to hire a surveyor instrument assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step surveyor instrument assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a surveyor instrument assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new surveyor instrument assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a surveyor instrument assistant job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a surveyor instrument assistant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a surveyor instrument assistant to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a surveyor instrument assistant that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of surveyor instrument assistants.

   Type of Surveyor Instrument Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Surveyor Instrument Assistant	Surveyors make precise measurements to determine property boundaries. They provide data relevant to the shape and contour of the Earth’s surface for engineering, mapmaking, and construction projects.	$14-30
   Party Chief	A party chief is a management position responsible for leading and guiding a program and providing leadership for its success. To fill this role, you will manage the program and provide overall technical expertise... Show more	$14-31
   Professional Land Surveyor	Professional land surveyors have skills in reading comprehension, mathematics, listening, speaking, and time management, as well as a keen attention to detail. These traits are needed for the tasks of this chosen career, which include updating boundary lines for construction in order to prevent legal disputes... Show more	$14-33

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • GPS
   • Survey Data
   • Construction Sites
   • Boundary Surveys
   • Data Collection
   • Survey Equipment
   • Auto CAD
   • GIS
   • Property Lines
   • Construction Layout
   • Topo
   • Control Points
   • Property Corners
   • As-Built

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Set up tripods with GPS equipment clear brush areas to obtain accurate line of site data, stake targets.
   • Assist lead surveyor with surveying instruments theodolites.
   • Use of trimble M3 total station and Topcon level.
   • Prepare drawings using rough sketches, GIS and engineering data.
   • Work with and become skilled with various forms of GIS mapping systems.
   • Perform various traverse, property survey, ALTA, construction staking and mapping duties.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your surveyor instrument assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A surveyor instrument assistant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, surveyor instrument assistants' average salary in nebraska is 57% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level surveyor instrument assistants earn 53% less than senior-level surveyor instrument assistants.
   • Certifications. A surveyor instrument assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a surveyor instrument assistant's salary.

   Average surveyor instrument assistant salary

   $43,952yearly

   $21.13 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level surveyor instrument assistant salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing a surveyor instrument assistant job description

   A good surveyor instrument assistant job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a surveyor instrument assistant job description:

   Surveyor instrument assistant job description example

   Phillips & Jordan, Inc. (P&J), a Phillips Infrastructure Holdings, Inc. company, is a certified woman-owned, heavy civil and power infrastructure contractor established in 1952. We build, maintain, and modernize resilient critical infrastructure, applying our decades of industry experience to today's construction challenges. This work spans three primary markets, Heavy Civil Construction (Power Generation, Water Resources, Mining, and Industrial & Commercial), Power (ROW Services, Foundations, Vegetation Management, and Pipeline Services), and Disaster Response, and our Core Values and Priorities--Integrity, Safety, Quality, and Production--guide our daily business practices. P&J is a People First company, and we hold safety above all other initiatives. We believe in a holistic approach to protecting our team, the environment, and communities. We carry this commitment with us as we strive to employ the best team members and lead infrastructure development through innovation and flawless execution.
   
   As one of ENR's top 400 contractors, P&J has regional offices strategically located across the country, and we have two full-service equipment shops to maintain our fleet of 750 heavy and specialized pieces of equipment. Working for P&J means benefitting from experienced personnel to guide your professional development journey, innovative approaches and technology to a family-oriented company that doesn't just take care of you but your family as well. We have built a reputation for taking on some of the most challenging and complex projects and successfully completing them on, or even ahead of, schedule.
   At P&J, we believe that it's more than a job; it's a way of life.
   
   Join the P&J team today and become a valued member of our company.
   
   Summary:
   
   Perform various surveying related tasks in order to produce precise and accurate results in a timely manner.
   
   Essential Knowledge and Skill Requirements:
   
   * Record survey measurements and descriptive data using notes, drawings, sketches, and various electronic data collectors
   * Position and hold surveying rods to locate and record measurements
   * Measures distance between survey points, using steel or cloth tape or surveyor's chain
   * Places stakes at designated points and drives them into ground at specified elevation, using hammer or hatchet
   * Cuts and clears brush and trees from line of survey, using brush hook, knife, ax, or other cutting tools
   
   Supervisory Responsibilities: None
   
   Basic Functional Job Requirements:
   
   * Strong math skills
   * Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions to critical problems
   * Good oral and written skills to communicate on multiple levels with various clients and co-workers.
   * Proficient with MS Office programs
   * Ability to work within a team environment
   * Desire to work outdoors year around
   * Be able to lift/carry up to 50 pounds unassisted
   * Must be self-starter with the desire to learn and advance
   
   Physical Work Environment:
   
   * Work in dusty or dirty surroundings
   * May be exposed to/ required to handle hazardous material such as diesel fuel and similar petroleum products with PPE provided to minimize exposure
   * May be required to work at night
   * May be exposed to extreme heat and cold environments of a limited basis
   
   Education and Experience:
   
   * High school diploma or equivalent educational attainments preferred and on-the-job training required
   
   Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process please contact Human Resources at
   
   Email:

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find surveyor instrument assistants for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your surveyor instrument assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit surveyor instrument assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit surveyor instrument assistants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new surveyor instrument assistant

   Once you have selected a candidate for the surveyor instrument assistant position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new surveyor instrument assistant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a surveyor instrument assistant?