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Surveying and Mapping Technicians in Washington

Surveying and Mapping Technicians in Washington

Thinking about a career as a Surveying and Mapping Technicians in Washington? Here’s what you need to know. Perform surveying and mapping duties, usually under the direction of an engineer, surveyor, cartographer, or photogrammetrist, to obtain data used for construction, mapmaking, boundary location, mining, or other purposes. May calculate mapmaking information and create maps from source data, such as surveying notes, aerial photography, satellite data, or other maps to show topographical features, political boundaries, and other features. May verify accuracy and completeness of maps. Excludes “Cartographers and Photogrammetrists” (17-1021), “Surveyors" (17-1022), and “Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers” (19-2042).

What do Surveying and Mapping Technicians Make in Washington?

The surveying and mapping technicians working in Washington, the median annual wage is $61,660 per year (or about $29.64/hour).Earnings range from $46,200 at the 10th percentile to $81,110 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $46,200 $22.21
25th percentile $52,000 $25.00
Median (50th) $61,660 $29.64
75th percentile $72,840 $35.02
90th percentile $81,110 $39.00
Salary ranges for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in Washington

The job concentration index in Washington nationwide is 0.87, meaning fewer surveying and mapping technicians per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, surveying and mapping technicians earn a median of $123,658 per year ($59.45/hour), below the Washington median.

Surveying and Mapping Technicians earnings in Washington vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 34,470 surveying and mapping technicians in the U.S.. In Washington alone, about 1,140 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 680 surveying and mapping technicians.

Surveying and Mapping Technicians in Washington vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Surveying and Mapping Technicians

Top Washington Metros for Surveying and Mapping Technicians

These are the Washington metros with the most surveying and mapping technicians in Washington.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 600 $61,670
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA 60 $60,600
Bellingham, WA 50 $63,050
Kennewick-Richland, WA 40 $59,900
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA 40 $60,240
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA 30 $63,290

Top States for Surveying and Mapping Technicians Employment

View the states that employ the most surveying and mapping technicians work.

State Number Employed
Texas 7,810
Florida 4,900
North Carolina 4,510
California 3,670
Colorado 2,440
Virginia 2,170
New York 1,900
Pennsylvania 1,560
Ohio 1,380
Georgia 1,350
Tennessee 1,330
South Carolina 1,270
Alabama 1,210
Oklahoma 1,180
Washington 1,140
Illinois 1,130
Michigan 1,080
Indiana 950
Idaho 930
Minnesota 910

Highest-Paying States for Surveying and Mapping Technicians

Where surveying and mapping technicians earn the most: surveying and mapping technicians.

State Annual Median Salary
Nevada $75,660
Alaska $73,320
District of Columbia $72,230
California $71,860
Minnesota $66,080
Maryland $64,460
Wyoming $61,790
Washington $61,660
New Jersey $61,170
Connecticut $60,150

Skills

The most important surveying and mapping technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Reading Comprehension  3.9 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.4 / 5
0
5
Writing  3.2 / 5
0
5
Mathematics  3.2 / 5
0
5
Speaking  3.1 / 5
0
5
Monitoring  3.1 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Computers and Electronics  4.2 / 5
0
5
Geography  3.9 / 5
0
5
Mathematics  3.7 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.6 / 5
0
5
Engineering and Technology  3.5 / 5
0
5
Design  3.3 / 5
0
5

Abilities

Top abilities for surveying and mapping technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Written Comprehension  3.8 / 5
0
5
Near Vision  3.5 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  3.4 / 5
0
5
Inductive Reasoning  3.4 / 5
0
5
Oral Expression  3.4 / 5
0
5
Written Expression  3.2 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

  • Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations.
  • Check all layers of maps to ensure accuracy, identifying and marking errors and making corrections.
  • Design or develop information databases that include geographic or topographic data.
  • Monitor mapping work or the updating of maps to ensure accuracy, inclusion of new or changed information, or compliance with rules and regulations.
  • Produce or update overlay maps to show information boundaries, water locations, or topographic features on various base maps or at different scales.
  • Determine scales, line sizes, or colors to be used for hard copies of computerized maps, using plotters.
  • Compile information necessary to stake projects for construction, using engineering plans.
  • Identify and compile database information to create requested maps.
  • 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.
  • Analyze aerial photographs to detect and interpret significant military, industrial, resource, or topographical data.
  • Research and combine existing property information to describe property boundaries in relation to adjacent properties, taking into account parcel splits, combinations, or land boundary adjustments.

Work Activities

  • Working with Computers
  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Getting Information
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Analyzing Data or Information
  • Processing Information
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk AutoCAD In-demand technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Related college programs include:

  • Geography & Cartography
  • Engineering-Related Technologies

Other careers like surveying and mapping technicians include:

Also Known As

Aerial Photograph Interpreter, Aerotriangulation Specialist, Assessment Technician, Ax Survey Worker, CAD Technician (Computer Aided Design Technician), Cartographic Aide, Cartographic Drafter, Cartographic Technician, Cartography Technician, Chain Carrier, Chainman, Compass Operator, Drafting Technician, Draftsman, Engineering Assistant.

References

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