Why Surveying as a Career?

If you are looking for a career that can offer professional licensure, great employment prospects, and competitive pay, look into surveying!

DIVERSE WORKDAYS

People often think that surveyors only work outside and conduct fieldwork, which is certainly part of a surveyor’s duties. However, surveyors can choose from a variety of specialties and job roles ranging from simple property research in an office through complex boundary resolution, subdivision platting, construction surveying and more. While much of a surveyor’s work is done in the field, there is also an equally important office component to survey work. Once the fieldwork is complete, the data must be analyzed and is often utilized for the creation of maps, plats, legal descriptions and other documents. The need for both field and office efforts provides opportunities for diversity across workloads, schedules, project types, and more.

ADVANCED TECH

Today’s surveyors use cutting edge technology to collect and analyze data. High precision GPS equipment, 3D laser scanning systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) and intricate geographic information systems challenge surveyors to apply increasingly complex technology to measure and map our world.

GREAT PAY

Surveyors occupy a respected position among professionals in Idaho, and compensation for licensed surveyors and land surveying para-professionals has continued to grow enormously. A salary survey conducted by the Idaho Department of Labor in 2017 found an average annual salary of $63,800 for Licensed Land Surveyors in Idaho. Today this is estimated to be closer to $80,000. Licensed surveyors often start their own profitable business or move into upper management positions and partnerships that can exceed salaries of $100,000.

NEED

Idaho is currently experiencing a shortage in professional land surveyors partly due to increasing development and anticipated retirements of the aging workforce. Job opportunities will be numerous.