Surveying and Mapping Technicians
SOC Code: 17-3031 Job Zone 3: Medium Preparation Needed
Perform surveying and mapping duties, usually under the direction of an engineer, surveyor, cartographer, or photogrammetrist, to obtain data used for construction, mapmaking, boundary location, mining, or other purposes. May calculate mapmaking information and create maps from source data, such as surveying notes, aerial photography, satellite data, or other maps to show topographical features, political boundaries, and other features. May verify accuracy and completeness of maps.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Surveying and Mapping Technicians. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $62,525 | $79,706 | $96,866 | $114,046 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $57,678 | $72,363 | $87,069 | $101,754 |
| Salinas, CA | $52,562 | $68,598 | $84,614 | $100,651 |
| Merced, CA | $51,168 | $66,934 | $82,701 | $98,467 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $54,038 | $68,578 | $83,096 | $97,635 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $56,659 | $70,262 | $83,886 | $97,490 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $40,976 | $59,592 | $78,187 | $96,803 |
| Carson City, NV | $52,666 | $66,082 | $79,498 | $92,914 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $51,563 | $65,250 | $78,915 | $92,602 |
| Reno, NV | $50,648 | $64,459 | $78,291 | $92,102 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.4 | |
| Writing | 3.2 | |
| Mathematics | 3.2 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 | |
| Speaking | 3.1 | |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Active Listening | 3.1 | |
| Active Learning | 3.0 | |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Computers and Electronics | 4.2 |
| Geography | 3.9 |
| Mathematics | 3.7 |
| English Language | 3.6 |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.5 |
| Design | 3.3 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.2 |
| Administrative | 2.9 |
Typical Tasks
- Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations.
- Check all layers of maps to ensure accuracy, identifying and marking errors and making corrections.
- Design or develop information databases that include geographic or topographic data.
- Monitor mapping work or the updating of maps to ensure accuracy, inclusion of new or changed information, or compliance with rules and regulations.
- Produce or update overlay maps to show information boundaries, water locations, or topographic features on various base maps or at different scales.
- Determine scales, line sizes, or colors to be used for hard copies of computerized maps, using plotters.
- Compile information necessary to stake projects for construction, using engineering plans.
- Identify and compile database information to create requested maps.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
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