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Surveyor instrument assistant vs survey manager

The differences between surveyor instrument assistants and survey 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 surveyor instrument assistant and a survey manager. Additionally, a survey manager has an average salary of $50,706, which is higher than the $43,952 average annual salary of a surveyor instrument assistant.

The top three skills for a surveyor instrument assistant include GPS, survey data and construction sites. The most important skills for a survey manager are GPS, civil 3d, and data collection.

Surveyor instrument assistant vs survey manager overview

Surveyor Instrument AssistantSurvey Manager
Yearly salary$43,952$50,706
Hourly rate$21.13$24.38
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs5,7242,935
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4444
Years of experience66

Surveyor instrument assistant vs survey manager salary

Surveyor instrument assistants and survey managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Surveyor Instrument AssistantSurvey Manager
Average salary$43,952$50,706
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $64,000Between $33,000 And $76,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Bowman Consulting Group
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between surveyor instrument assistant and survey manager education

There are a few differences between a surveyor instrument assistant and a survey manager in terms of educational background:

Surveyor Instrument AssistantSurvey Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorCivil EngineeringSurveying, Mapping, And Hydraulic Technologies
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyPennsylvania State University

Surveyor instrument assistant vs survey manager demographics

Here are the differences between surveyor instrument assistants' and survey managers' demographics:

Surveyor Instrument AssistantSurvey Manager
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 83.8% Female, 16.2%Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9%
Race ratioBlack 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, 10.9% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between surveyor instrument assistant and survey manager duties and responsibilities

Surveyor instrument assistant example 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.
  • Show more

Survey manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage a group of 8 surveyors and 2 GIS technicians who are working on commercial development and public infrastructure projects
  • Prepare documents for zoning, easement vacations, and right-of-way acquisitions.
  • Hire and train new employees with entry level, instrument operator and to operate the GPS system.
  • Perform quality control and quality assurance reviews on exhibit documents submit to RMP for the right-of-way acquisition process.
  • Provide complete boundary surveying services and prepare minor subdivisions.

Surveyor instrument assistant vs survey manager skills

Common surveyor instrument assistant skills
  • GPS, 20%
  • Survey Data, 16%
  • Construction Sites, 15%
  • Boundary Surveys, 5%
  • Data Collection, 5%
  • Survey Equipment, 4%
Common survey manager skills
  • GPS, 10%
  • Civil 3D, 7%
  • Data Collection, 6%
  • CAD, 6%
  • Survey Data, 5%
  • PLS, 5%

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