Takeover Tracker
30%medium risk

Surveying Technicians

Adjust and operate surveying instruments, such as the theodolite and electronic distance-measuring equipment, and compile notes, make sketches and enter data into computers.

Higher risk than 40% of occupations
Checking for existing plan...

How AI Impacts Each Task

21 tasks analyzed

Search for section corners, property irons, and survey points.

Risk: 11.0%AI: 5EstimatedTime: 10%

Adjust and operate surveying instruments such as prisms, theodolites, and electronic distance-measuring equipment.

Risk: 13.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 10%

Conduct surveys to ascertain the locations of natural features and man-made structures on the Earth's surface, underground, and underwater, using electronic distance-measuring equipment and other surveying instruments.

Risk: 17.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 10%

Collect information needed to carry out new surveys, using source maps, previous survey data, photographs, computer records, and other relevant information.

Risk: 85.2%AI: 90EstimatedTime: 6%

Prepare topographic and contour maps of land surveyed, including site features and other relevant information, such as charts, drawings, and survey notes.

Risk: 87.2%AI: 95EstimatedTime: 6%

Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations.

Risk: 39.0%AI: 15EstimatedTime: 5%

Set out and recover stakes, marks, and other monumentation.

Risk: 11.0%AI: 5EstimatedTime: 6%

Record survey measurements and descriptive data, using notes, drawings, sketches, and inked tracings.

Risk: 85.2%AI: 90EstimatedTime: 5%

Compile information necessary to stake projects for construction, using engineering plans.

Risk: 85.2%AI: 90EstimatedTime: 4%

Operate and manage land-information computer systems, performing tasks such as storing data, making inquiries, and producing plots and reports.

Risk: 87.2%AI: 95EstimatedTime: 4%

Compare survey computations with applicable standards to determine adequacy of data.

Risk: 87.2%AI: 95EstimatedTime: 4%

Maintain equipment and vehicles used by surveying crews.

Risk: 41.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 3%

Lay out grids, and determine horizontal and vertical controls.

Risk: 55.0%AI: 70EstimatedTime: 5%

Direct and supervise work of subordinate members of surveying parties.

Risk: 23.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 4%

Run rods for benches and cross-section elevations.

Risk: 39.0%AI: 15EstimatedTime: 4%

Perform calculations to determine earth curvature corrections, atmospheric impacts on measurements, traverse closures and adjustments, azimuths, level runs, and placement of markers.

Risk: 89.2%AI: 100EstimatedTime: 4%

Provide assistance in the development of methods and procedures for conducting field surveys.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 2%

Place and hold measuring tapes when electronic distance-measuring equipment is not used.

Risk: 37.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 3%

Perform manual labor, such as cutting brush for lines, carrying stakes, rebar, and other heavy items, and stacking rods.

Risk: 9.0%AI: 0EstimatedTime: 5%

Conduct surveys to ascertain the locations of natural features and man-made structures on the Earth's surface, underground, and underwater, using electronic distance-measuring equipment, such as GPS, and other surveying instruments.

Risk: 17.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 2%

Adjust and operate surveying instruments such as prisms, theodolites, electronic distance measuring equipment, or electronic data collectors.

Risk: 13.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 2%

Skill Impact Analysis

AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Reading Comprehension10%

High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Information Ordering5%

High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Memorization5%

Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Programming15%

Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

AI-Resistant Skills (11)

Adaptability/Flexibility85%

Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Leadership88%

Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Manual Dexterity80%

Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Complex Problem Solving75%

Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Coordination70%

Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Social Perceptiveness90%

Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Instructing75%

Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Service Orientation82%

Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Recommended Courses

Courses matched to Surveying Technicians skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.

Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.

Upskill to Reduce Risk

Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills

Courseraintermediate

Machine Learning Specialization

by Stanford / DeepLearning.AI

~10 weeks$49/mo4.9Certificate
Addresses vulnerability: Mathematics

Estimated Impact

-7.2pt risk+$3K/yr salary

AI-Augmentation Tools

Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity

Courserabeginner

Google UX Design Professional Certificate

by Google

~5 months$49/mo4.8Certificate
Enhances AI augmentation: Critical Thinking

Estimated Impact

-5.1pt risk+$3K/yr salary

Strengthen Your Edge

Double down on skills AI can't replicate

Courseraintermediate

Leading People and Teams Specialization

by University of Michigan

~6 weeks$49/mo4.7Certificate
Strengthens resilience: Leadership

Estimated Impact

-3.6pt risk+$3K/yr salary

We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.

Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.

Score History

Risk score over 2 scoring runs

-2.5

overall change

Education & Training

Percentage of workers at each education and training level

Training Provided After Hiring

How long it typically takes to learn on the job

6-8 years4%

Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis