How to hire a surveyor

How to hire a surveyor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step surveyor 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 job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new surveyor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a surveyor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the surveyor you need to hire. Certain surveyor roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A surveyor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, surveyors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of surveyors.

   Type of Surveyor	Description	Hourly rate
   Surveyor	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.	$15-32
   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
   Instrument Person	An instrument person is also called a survey party chief. They are responsible for preparing and conducting surveys before a particular land is constructed and developed... Show more	$14-30

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • GPS
   • Survey Data
   • Data Collection
   • Survey Equipment
   • Civil 3D
   • Customer Service
   • Work Ethic
   • Topographic Surveys
   • Sketch
   • Math
   • GIS
   • Boundary Surveys
   • Legal Descriptions
   • Construction Layout

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Utilize GPS technology to manage a two man robotic crew assign to residential/ commercial development projects.
   • Assist the PLS with ALTAs, B2, legals, exhibits, topo s and plats drawing and field work.
   • Set up and run instruments.
   • Work with Trimble GNSS surveying systems.
   • Survey of proposal access roads by RTK method.
   • Create alignment sheets in Carlson from survey base files.

   More surveyor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the surveyor job description is a good way to get more applicants. A surveyor salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a surveyor in Alabama may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level surveyor. Additionally, a surveyor with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average surveyor salary

   $46,875yearly

   $22.54 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level surveyor salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average surveyor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$69,159	$33
   2	New York	$63,839	$31
   3	Washington	$62,291	$30
   4	Oregon	$52,024	$25
   5	Texas	$51,289	$25
   6	Massachusetts	$50,566	$24
   7	Florida	$49,860	$24
   8	New Mexico	$49,033	$24
   9	Louisiana	$48,938	$24
   10	Illinois	$47,228	$23
   11	Colorado	$45,737	$22
   12	Arizona	$44,275	$21
   13	North Carolina	$43,890	$21
   14	Wisconsin	$43,172	$21
   15	Nevada	$42,738	$21
   16	South Carolina	$42,168	$20
   17	Virginia	$42,004	$20
   18	Maryland	$41,639	$20
   19	Minnesota	$41,265	$20
   20	Missouri	$40,878	$20

   Average surveyor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Citadel	$95,154	$45.75
   2	Corning Incorporated	$86,386	$41.53
   3	Bowman Consulting Group	$78,474	$37.73	66
   4	CME Associates	$78,435	$37.71
   5	Tesoro	$78,324	$37.66	9
   6	Timmons Group	$78,112	$37.55	44
   7	Jacobs Engineering Group	$76,217	$36.64
   8	Fishbeck	$76,093	$36.58	6
   9	Century Engineering	$75,923	$36.50
   10	Hargrove Engineers + Constructors	$75,816	$36.45	1
   11	POWER Engineers	$75,470	$36.28
   12	SAM Companies	$75,444	$36.27	14
   13	Control Point Associates	$75,419	$36.26	11
   14	Rick Engineering	$75,399	$36.25	5
   15	Delta Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors	$75,222	$36.16
   16	Bolton & Menk	$75,148	$36.13	12
   17	Farnsworth Group	$75,129	$36.12	28
   18	DuBois & King	$75,096	$36.10
   19	CESO	$74,900	$36.01	2
   20	Garver, LLC	$74,874	$36.00	2

4. Writing a surveyor job description

   A surveyor job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a surveyor job description:

   Surveyor job description example

   Plans, develops, coordinates and directs mid-level sized projects or projects of moderate scope and importance or is responsible for assisting with guiding the surveying program of an organization when the program is of limited complexity and scope. The extent of the responsibilities of a Land Surveyor generally includes a few (3-5) subordinate supervisors.
   
   Able to participate in the conception, planning, and research associated with problem areas of moderate scope and complexity. The problems must be approached through a series of complete and conceptually-related studies, are difficult to define, require unconventional approaches, and require sophisticated research techniques. Available guides and precedents contain critical gaps, are only partially related to the problem or may be large lacking due to the novel character of the project.
   
   As a staff specialist, the Land Surveyor assists with the application of advanced theories, concepts, principles, and processes for an assigned are of responsibility. Land Surveyor shall stay abreast of new methods and developments affecting his/her organization of the purpose of recommending changes in emphasis of programs or new programs warranted by such developments.
   
   Plans, organizes, and supervises the work of survey department staff, other professionals, and technicians. Evaluates the progress of the staff and results obtained and recommends major changes in order to achieve overall objectives.
   
   This position requires good communication skills to effectively maintain relationships with existing clients and to develop new client relations. As a means of maintaining and developing client relationships, the Land Surveyor is expected to spend time, outside of normal business hours if necessary, participating in local civic organizations, community events, etc.
   Perform related duties as assigned by supervisor. Maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures.
   EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
   Bachelor of Science degree in Land Surveying, Civil Engineering or a closely related field from an accredited college or university is preferred Ability to obtain GA RLS registration is preferred; registration in additional states preferred. Minimum of 3 years relevant work experience. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to effectively communicate with internal and external customers. Excellent computer proficiency (MS Office Word, Excel and Outlook). Valid drivers license required; must have satisfactory driving record in accordance with EMC fleet insurance requirements. Must be able to pass a background check as required by military, industrial, port, and other client sites. Must be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines, while maintaining a positive attitude and providing exemplary customer service. Ability to work independently and to carry out assignments to completion within parameters of instructions given, prescribed routines, and standard accepted practices. Working knowledge of AutoCAD and Terramodel CADD software is required

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find surveyors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any surveyors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level surveyors with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your surveyor job on Zippia to find and recruit surveyor 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 surveyors, 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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

   Once you've selected the best surveyor candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new surveyor 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.)

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