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Surveyors

SOC 17-1022.00Job Zone 4 · Considerable Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers boundary, topographic, and geodetic surveying practice in residential, commercial, infrastructure, and public-land contexts, from supervised field work through executive leadership of a licensed surveying organization.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Legal deeds and title documents — review and interpret under direct supervision to support boundary survey preparation on residential property assignments.
  2. Survey field measurements — record and verify using standard instruments under the guidance of a licensed surveyor on assigned job sites.
  3. Sketches and field notes — draft basic representations of survey data following established protocols and templates provided by senior staff.
  4. Legal records and survey archives — search and retrieve property boundary information under supervisor direction to support upcoming survey projects.
  5. Survey calculations and measurements — check for arithmetic accuracy using spreadsheet or analytical software tools with oversight from a project surveyor.
  6. Land features including elevation, contour, and dimensions — document observed characteristics in standardized field logs during supervised site visits.
  7. CAD software and map creation tools — operate at a foundational level to input and display basic survey data under direct technical guidance.
  8. Geographic information system (GIS) platforms — navigate and query existing datasets to extract preliminary boundary and topographic information as assigned.
  9. Mathematical principles including geometry and trigonometry — apply to routine surveying computations with review and correction by senior surveyors.
  10. Written survey reports and data tables — compile from collected field data following structured formats defined by project supervisors.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Property boundary surveys — conduct independently for standard residential and commercial parcels, referencing legal deeds and prior survey records with minimal oversight.
  2. Legal descriptions of boundary surveys — compose in clear, precise language suitable for inclusion in deeds, leases, and related legal documents for routine projects.
  3. Survey data accuracy — verify through systematic cross-checking of field measurements and computed values, identifying and resolving common discrepancies on active projects.
  4. Maps, plots, and survey records — prepare and organize using CAD and map creation software to meet project specifications and regulatory submission standards.
  5. Land title records and historical survey files — research independently across multiple jurisdictions to resolve boundary ambiguities on moderately complex property cases.
  6. Geodetic computations including coordinate transformations and traverse adjustments — perform using analytical software to determine accurate positions of geomorphic features.
  7. Topographic and geomorphic data — interpret and record in project documentation, including shape, location, elevation, and dimensional attributes of land features.
  8. Project timelines and field crew scheduling — coordinate across concurrent survey assignments to meet client deadlines and regulatory filing requirements.
  9. Junior survey technicians — guide on proper instrument use, field recording procedures, and safety protocols during site data collection activities.
  10. Client and stakeholder communications — deliver clear verbal explanations of survey scope, findings, and boundary determinations during project progress discussions.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complex property boundary surveys — direct and personally execute across residential, commercial, and public-land contexts, assuming full professional liability for work certified.
  2. Legal descriptions and survey reports — author with precision and legal sufficiency for use in contested boundary disputes, title insurance, and government regulatory filings.
  3. Survey data integrity — autonomously audit measurement records, computational outputs, and georeferenced datasets to detect and correct systematic and random errors before final delivery.
  4. Comprehensive survey packages including charts, maps, plots, and legal documents — supervise full preparation and ensure compliance with state licensing standards and client requirements.
  5. Non-routine boundary conflicts arising from ambiguous deed language or competing survey records — analyze using advanced legal research, historical evidence, and professional judgment to render defensible determinations.
  6. Geodetic and photogrammetric survey data — integrate and interpret across multiple collection methods to produce accurate topographic models and elevation products for engineering and land-use applications.
  7. GIS, analytical software, and data conversion tools — employ at an advanced level to build, manage, and quality-control spatial datasets that support multi-phase development or infrastructure projects.
  8. Regulatory submissions and licensing documentation — prepare and certify for state surveying boards, municipal authorities, and federal land agencies on behalf of the firm.
  9. Field and office workflows — design and implement efficient procedures that reduce rework, improve measurement accuracy, and align with best practices in geodetic and boundary surveying.
  10. Emerging survey technologies including UAV photogrammetry and terrestrial LiDAR — evaluate, pilot, and integrate into standard practice to expand the firm's technical service capabilities.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Organizational surveying standards and quality assurance frameworks — establish and enforce across all project teams, setting the benchmark for professional accuracy and legal defensibility firm-wide.
  2. Strategic direction for survey operations — define long-range service lines, technology investments, and market positioning to align the firm with evolving client and regulatory demands.
  3. Complex, high-stakes boundary adjudications involving disputed titles or public-land patents — lead as the principal authority, representing the firm before legal tribunals, title companies, and government bodies.
  4. Licensure and professional development pathways — design and mentor for junior surveyors and technicians, shaping structured learning programs that build competency from emerging to proficient levels.
  5. Cross-disciplinary project leadership — coordinate survey deliverables with civil engineers, urban planners, environmental scientists, and legal counsel on large-scale infrastructure and land development initiatives.
  6. Survey research and professional best practices — contribute to state licensing board deliberations, industry standards bodies, and peer-reviewed technical publications to advance the profession.
  7. Enterprise technology architecture for survey data management — oversee selection, implementation, and governance of GIS, CAD, project management, and document management platforms across the organization.
  8. Client and stakeholder relationships at the executive level — cultivate long-term partnerships with government agencies, real estate developers, and legal firms that secure the firm's project pipeline.
  9. Risk and liability management for certified survey work — establish organizational policies that govern professional seal usage, error-and-omission exposure, and claims response procedures.
  10. Organizational performance metrics for survey accuracy, project delivery, and staff utilization — monitor, interpret, and act upon firm-wide data to drive continuous improvement and competitive differentiation.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Show O*NET source anchors63 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
City Surveyor · Construction Surveyor · County Surveyor · Field Inspector · Field Surveyor · Geophysical Prospecting Surveyor · Health Facilities Surveyor · Home Surveyor · Insurance Loss Control Surveyor · Land Examiner · Land Measurer · Land Surveyor
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
MathematicsReading ComprehensionWritingCritical ThinkingSpeakingCoordinationActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningTime ManagementComplex Problem SolvingLearning StrategiesInstructingSystems AnalysisMonitoringSocial Perceptiveness
Knowledge domains
MathematicsEngineering and TechnologyGeographyComputers and ElectronicsDesignCustomer and Personal ServiceBuilding and ConstructionAdministration and ManagementEnglish LanguageLaw and GovernmentEducation and TrainingAdministrativePersonnel and Human Resources
Abilities
Written ComprehensionMathematical ReasoningDeductive ReasoningWritten ExpressionInductive ReasoningNear VisionOral ComprehensionNumber FacilityOral ExpressionFar Vision
Work styles
Attention to DetailDependabilityCautiousnessIntegrityPerseveranceAchievement Orientation
Technology
Computer aided design CAD softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareMap creation softwareGeographic information systemAnalytical or scientific softwareApplication server softwareProject management softwareData conversion softwareData base user interface and query softwareDocument management software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Direct or conduct surveys to establish legal boundaries for properties, based on legal deeds and titles.
  2. Prepare and maintain sketches, maps, reports, and legal descriptions of surveys to describe, certify, and assume liability for work performed.
  3. Write descriptions of property boundary surveys for use in deeds, leases, or other legal documents.
  4. Verify the accuracy of survey data, including measurements and calculations conducted at survey sites.
  5. Search legal records, survey records, and land titles to obtain information about property boundaries in areas to be surveyed.
  6. Record the results of surveys, including the shape, contour, location, elevation, and dimensions of land or land features.
  7. Prepare, or supervise preparation of, all data, charts, plots, maps, records, and documents related to surveys.
  8. Compute geodetic measurements and interpret survey data to determine positions, shapes, and elevations of geomorphic and topographic features.
CIP education codes
14.380115.1102

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.