Surveying for a living?

[Beeman]

Anyone on here a surveyor or work surveying?
It seems to me it would be a good profession for someone to look into. With all of the subdividing and developing I don't see an end to it, a bit like undertaker. I've recommended it to my son as something he should possibly go to school for. What schooling is involved?

[Sand Flat Bob]

Originally Posted by Beeman

Anyone on here a surveyor or work surveying?
It seems to me it would be a good profession for someone to look into. With all of the subdividing and developing I don't see an end to it, a bit like undertaker. I've recommended it to my son as something he should possibly go to school for. What schooling is involved?

I would highly recommend that He consider getting a degree in Civil Engineering. That would open up lots of opportunities in
case he decides to do something other than Surveying. Plus he could start up his own surveying business.

Bob

[LittleRedHen]

Originally Posted by Beeman

Anyone on here a surveyor or work surveying?
It seems to me it would be a good profession for someone to look into. With all of the subdividing and developing I don't see an end to it, a bit like undertaker. I've recommended it to my son as something he should possibly go to school for. What schooling is involved?

My husband works for a land surveyor but he didn't go to colllege for it. Here in MIchigan the work is very slow. Sure land developments and subdividing lots, creating subdivisions does create SOME work for surveyors but it only creates so much. Mortgage surveys are becoming less and less and most people cannot afford to even get surveys lately.

I'd suggest he try to go to college for Auto CAD aspect of surveying as opposed to becoming a Professional land surveyor with his own business. The ability to do the CAD which is computer animated drawing is very valuable. He could get good paying job knowing how to do it and it can be used in other types of work if surveying cannot support him. they use CAD for such things as furniture building as well.

[MN Gardener]

I was actually looking into it, there aren't very many surveyors in our state (MN) and almost 70+% will be retiring in the next ten years. But I believe in MN you have to have a degree and then work under someone for 2+ years. I also think that being able to do this with the GPS stuff they are coming out with is a good idea.

[hillsidedigger]

ETSU at Johnson City, TN has a 4 year degree program in land survyeing. More and more states are now requiring a 4 year degree to be eligible for the exam for licensure.

Like another poster said, most licensed surveyors in most states are at least 50 years, probably half are at least 60 years old.

Unlike attornies, who make their living muddying the water of issues, surveyors actually resolve issues and once resolved will likely not involve further work or a continuing income. Medical professionals make their money from keeping people sick, not by getting them well and so are like attornies but surveyors tend to work themselves right out of work by solving issues.

Still, surveying is a small profession with there being about 20 times as many attornies and 30 times as many realtors as surveyors.

High rates of new construction and subdivision of land is over in America. It won't pick-up again. Thats just as well for there are limits to growth and we need to learn the technigues of a static society.

I really do not foresee long range prospects for too much work in the field of surveying, most places. Electricity is the field for young people to look into.

[Longliner]

Something, very similar to surveying that I would recommend looking into is grade setting, also called grade checking. Most larger construction companies that do grading work (everything from subdivisions to freeways to airports) neede grade checkers and there is a strong demand for them nationwide.

With the trend in the construction industry towards GPS "Rovers" for surveying and grade checking, the actual field work is very similar between the two careers. But grade setters are almost always better paid, usually in equal or greater demand and can easily have the backing of unions (if that's something you're into).

Most top grade setters end up as surveyors because they get to spend less time in the field and more time in a nice climate controlled office. This has caused a huge demand for grade setters in the construction industry.

Wages are anywhere from $21-$55/hour depending on where in the country you are. With all current presidential candidates offering economic stimulus packages that entail large amounts of infrastructure work, I foresee the wages increasing and demand increasing over the next couple years.

Most grade setters get started as heavy equipment operators, or go through a union's apprenticeship program. Every GPS/3-D system company that I'm aware of offers training schools so grade setters who are accustomed to grade rods and eye levels (the old tools) can get trained up on the new GPS tools. The schools, usually about a week long, can take anyone new to the technology pretty much up to speed. The remainder can be learned simply by running the tools and computer programs on the job.

[pcdreams]

one thing some are forgetting. What does said individual wish to do? After all, it is their choice.

[Beeman]

Originally Posted by pcdreams

one thing some are forgetting. What does said individual wish to do? After all, it is their choice.

Said individual has no clue what they want to do for the rest of their life. This is why the post and the word recommended. Also keep in mind said individual is living in this individual's house and this individual might be willing to help a little with said costs if a good path is chosen.

[pcdreams]

ah yes forced compliance with incentive.. How very kind.

nothing wrong with trying to point someone in the right direction.. but a "good" path is in the eye of the beholder.

Back on topic.. Surveying is an excellent field. I've actually had a job doing that and looking back it was the most enjoyable time of my life. You get to be out in nature instead of behind a desk all day.. what more could one want for?

[texican]

There's a three to four month backlog on surveying, hereabouts. If you have an emergency, they can get to you in a couple of weeks... the rates are doubled, or sometimes tripled.

[Kmac15]

DS worked with our neighbor who is a surveyor. Said the two summers of work showed him that he wanted to work in the AC (SC here) and wanted to work with things that would talk back with him, trees are not very good with conversation.

did say that as the newbie on the team he got to be the one to go through the marsh and swamps, which made him an experienced gator baiter. LOL

[Jena]

I have a cousin who runs a surveying business in Texas. He is VERY wealthy! He started that business years ago with his brother. Most of his children have gone to surveying school and joined the business. They are all VERY wealthy as well.

I'd say it was a good option for a career.

Jena

[Darren]

A local college http://www.glenville.edu/ offers a two year degree in surveying. The graduates have no problems finding jobs. Tuition is probably cheaper here for out of state residents than some pay for in-state elsewhere. I know for a fact that the curriculum includes plenty of GPS work using ESRI software as well as a CAD application, Carlson.

Currently the oil and gas well boom in WV is providing lots of work. For some reason WV hasn't been hit with the problems such as foreclosures that many areas have seen. There's plenty of work here for surveyors.

[Ashtina98]

We have a friend who works for a surveyor, he does not have a degree but military background and loves the work, is always busy (in WA State anyway) he is thinking of taking the exam so that he could work for himself instead of someone else, he still makes a decent living (around $60K) working for someone else though. I suppose it depends on where you live as to the demand and the pay.

[mwhit]

My FIL started a surveying business last year (just retired as surveyor from NYS DOT) and DH works with him occassionally on the weekends. It will eventually will be full-time when FIL's partner retires and someday the business will belong to DH and his brother (who is a bridge engineer for NY). All of their surveys are GPS-- FIL used to be a big-wig in Albany and then he cut back some and mainly trained the younger guys on the GPS equipment.

You are in TN, which is good. Here in the cold north winters are pretty slow.

Michelle

[Jerry in MN]

I worked summers surveying for a couple of county highway departments and I liked it a lot. And I remember hearing results of a study about 5-10 years ago that civil engineering is one of the most satisfying occupations in terms of pay, stress level, etc. Around here a common type of land survey project is to separate a farmstead from the rest of the land in, say, a quarter section; that's what I had done here last year.

[blufford]

In his youth George Washington worked as a surveyor and later in life founded a country. A noble occupation especially if you have good math skills. Wooden teeth not required.

[Fried Okra]

As someone mentioned earlier - surveyors are retiring at a much higher rate than new surveyors are entering the field. While this may prompt the boards to allow civil engineers to seal surveys in the future, I don't see that happening without a big fight. What this does mean, in my opinion, is that quality surveying firms will be looking for good young talent and will pay decently for it - supply and demand in effect. Stay away from those companies that specialize in loan/mortgage surveys and house stakeout as that work is low paying and the most subject to downturns in construction/real estate markets.

[Quint]

My great, great, great grandfather who homesteaded this property originally was a surveyor. He did most of the land in the county and got some sort of discount or extra land from the deal. He wasn't particularly wealthy but that was back in the late 1830s.

[Ramblin Wreck]

I think it would be an excellent career, and if I had to do it over again, that's the route I'd take. You get to work outside, work with technology, and work with math/maps/plats. In our state, a degree, experience, and passing a test is required.