Cartographic Surveyor Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Cartographic Surveyor

Best Schools to become a Cartographic Surveyor in U.S. 2024

Pennsylvania State University-World Campus

University Park, PA

In-State Tuition:$15,054
Out-of-State Tuition:$15,054
Admission Rate:82%
Graduation Rate:36%
Total Enrollment:13,979

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA

In-State Tuition:$11,189
Out-of-State Tuition:$39,687
Admission Rate:48%
Graduation Rate:84%
Total Enrollment:52,319

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR

In-State Tuition:$10,425
Out-of-State Tuition:$31,200
Admission Rate:83%
Graduation Rate:70%
Total Enrollment:34,292

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

In-State Tuition:$4,477
Out-of-State Tuition:$25,694
Admission Rate:23%
Graduation Rate:90%
Total Enrollment:55,211

Arizona State University Digital Immersion

Scottsdale, AZ

In-State Tuition:$10,978
Out-of-State Tuition:$13,248
Admission Rate:64%
Graduation Rate:52%
Total Enrollment:62,551

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA

In-State Tuition:$63,468
Out-of-State Tuition:$63,468
Admission Rate:12%
Graduation Rate:92%
Total Enrollment:48,945
Cartographic Surveyor Job Description:
  • Make exact measurements and determine property boundaries.
  • Provide data relevant to the shape, contour, gravitation, location, elevation, or dimension of land or land features on or near the earth's surface for engineering, mapmaking, mining, land evaluation, construction, and other purposes.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Cartographic Surveyor

Job Duties for Cartographic Surveyors

  • Direct or conduct surveys to establish legal boundaries for properties, based on legal deeds and titles.

  • Prepare and maintain sketches, maps, reports, and legal descriptions of surveys to describe, certify, and assume liability for work performed.

  • Write descriptions of property boundary surveys for use in deeds, leases, or other legal documents.

Technologies and Skills Used by Cartographic Surveyors

Analytical or scientific software

  • Sokkia Spectrum Survey Suite
  • Survey software

Computer aided design CAD software

  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Bentley MicroStation

Map creation software

  • Geomechanical design analysis GDA software
  • Sokkia Imap

Basic Skills

  • Reading work related information
  • Using math to solve problems

People and Technology Systems

  • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Current Job Market and Opportunites for a Cartographic Surveyor

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Cartographic Surveyor

FAQs About Becoming a Cartographic Surveyor