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.
AI Impact Summary
Surveying Technicians faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 30/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 40% of all analyzed occupations. Of 21 analyzed tasks, 7 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
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/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
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
Machine Learning Specialization
by Stanford / DeepLearning.AI
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Google UX Design Professional Certificate
by Google
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
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.
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
How AI Impacts Each Task
21 tasks analyzed
Search for section corners, property irons, and survey points.
Adjust and operate surveying instruments such as prisms, theodolites, and electronic distance-measuring equipment.
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.
Collect information needed to carry out new surveys, using source maps, previous survey data, photographs, computer records, and other relevant information.
Prepare topographic and contour maps of land surveyed, including site features and other relevant information, such as charts, drawings, and survey notes.
Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations.
Set out and recover stakes, marks, and other monumentation.
Record survey measurements and descriptive data, using notes, drawings, sketches, and inked tracings.
Compile information necessary to stake projects for construction, using engineering plans.
Operate and manage land-information computer systems, performing tasks such as storing data, making inquiries, and producing plots and reports.
Compare survey computations with applicable standards to determine adequacy of data.
Maintain equipment and vehicles used by surveying crews.
Lay out grids, and determine horizontal and vertical controls.
Direct and supervise work of subordinate members of surveying parties.
Run rods for benches and cross-section elevations.
Perform calculations to determine earth curvature corrections, atmospheric impacts on measurements, traverse closures and adjustments, azimuths, level runs, and placement of markers.
Provide assistance in the development of methods and procedures for conducting field surveys.
Place and hold measuring tapes when electronic distance-measuring equipment is not used.
Perform manual labor, such as cutting brush for lines, carrying stakes, rebar, and other heavy items, and stacking rods.
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.
Adjust and operate surveying instruments such as prisms, theodolites, electronic distance measuring equipment, or electronic data collectors.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Search for section corners, property irons, and survey points. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 10% | |
| Adjust and operate surveying instruments such as prisms, theodolites, and electronic distance-measuring equipment. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 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. | 20Estimated | 17.0% | 10% | |
| Collect information needed to carry out new surveys, using source maps, previous survey data, photographs, computer records, and other relevant information. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 6% | |
| Prepare topographic and contour maps of land surveyed, including site features and other relevant information, such as charts, drawings, and survey notes. | 95Estimated | 87.2% | 6% | |
| Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations. | 15Estimated | 39.0% | 5% | |
| Set out and recover stakes, marks, and other monumentation. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 6% | |
| Record survey measurements and descriptive data, using notes, drawings, sketches, and inked tracings. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 5% | |
| Compile information necessary to stake projects for construction, using engineering plans. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 4% | |
| Operate and manage land-information computer systems, performing tasks such as storing data, making inquiries, and producing plots and reports. | 95Estimated | 87.2% | 4% | |
| Compare survey computations with applicable standards to determine adequacy of data. | 95Estimated | 87.2% | 4% | |
| Maintain equipment and vehicles used by surveying crews. | 20Estimated | 41.0% | 3% | |
| Lay out grids, and determine horizontal and vertical controls. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 5% | |
| Direct and supervise work of subordinate members of surveying parties. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 4% | |
| Run rods for benches and cross-section elevations. | 15Estimated | 39.0% | 4% | |
| Perform calculations to determine earth curvature corrections, atmospheric impacts on measurements, traverse closures and adjustments, azimuths, level runs, and placement of markers. | 100Estimated | 89.2% | 4% | |
| Provide assistance in the development of methods and procedures for conducting field surveys. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 2% | |
| Place and hold measuring tapes when electronic distance-measuring equipment is not used. | 10Estimated | 37.0% | 3% | |
| Perform manual labor, such as cutting brush for lines, carrying stakes, rebar, and other heavy items, and stacking rods. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 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. | 20Estimated | 17.0% | 2% | |
| Adjust and operate surveying instruments such as prisms, theodolites, electronic distance measuring equipment, or electronic data collectors. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 29.2%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$51,940
per year
Mean Wage
$56,890
per year
Employment
57K
workers
Wage Range
$36,910 - $80,870
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Surveying Technicians professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Systems Analysis
Systems Analysis will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change