Soil surveying technician

About this occupation

Soil surveying technicians analyse soil by carrying out technical surveying tasks, using soil surveying techniques. They focus on the process of classifying soil types and other soil properties. Soil surveying technicians operate surveying equipment and utilise programs to retrieve and interpret relevant data, and perform computations as required.

• Set out and recover stakes, marks, or other monumentation.
• Search for section corners, property irons, or survey points.
• Calculate latitudes, longitudes, angles, areas, or other information for mapmaking, using survey field notes or reference tables.
• Enter Global Positioning System (GPS) data, legal deeds, field notes, or land survey reports into geographic information system (GIS) workstations so that information can be transformed into graphic land descriptions, such as maps and drawings.
• Adjust and operate surveying instruments such as prisms, theodolites, electronic distance measuring equipment, or electronic data collectors.
• Check all layers of maps to ensure accuracy, identifying and marking errors and making corrections.

Preparation

Job Zone 3 of 5

Interests

Realistic, Conventional, Investigative

Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Mathematics, Complex Problem Solving, Active Listening, Monitoring

US median pay: US$54,240 a year (2025), 58,010 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Subjects this work relies on

How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).

• GeographyO*NET: GeographyVery important (4.1)
• Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsVery important (4.0)
• English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.5)
• Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.4)
• Technical DrawingO*NET: DesignImportant (3.3)
• Design and TechnologyO*NET: Design + Engineering and TechnologyImportant (3.2)
• Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.1)

O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

Preparation needed

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Education

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Training

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.