Topographic Surveyor Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Topographic Surveyor

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

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

In-State Tuition:$11,564
Out-of-State Tuition:$41,636
Admission Rate:11%
Graduation Rate:94%
Total Enrollment:45,307

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA

In-State Tuition:$12,104
Out-of-State Tuition:$31,754
Admission Rate:57%
Graduation Rate:86%
Total Enrollment:38,170

Texas A & M University-College Station

College Station, TX

In-State Tuition:$8,815
Out-of-State Tuition:$36,239
Admission Rate:63%
Graduation Rate:84%
Total Enrollment:74,014

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA

In-State Tuition:$5,742
Out-of-State Tuition:$17,622
Admission Rate:55%
Graduation Rate:66%
Total Enrollment:27,503

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL

In-State Tuition:$14,542
Out-of-State Tuition:$35,122
Admission Rate:45%
Graduation Rate:85%
Total Enrollment:56,916

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Newark, NJ

In-State Tuition:$15,198
Out-of-State Tuition:$31,658
Admission Rate:66%
Graduation Rate:74%
Total Enrollment:12,332
Topographic 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 Topographic Surveyor

Job Duties for Topographic 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 Topographic 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 Topographic Surveyor

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Topographic Surveyor

FAQs About Becoming a Topographic Surveyor