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Pay: The 540 surveyors working in the Seattle-Tacoma- Bellevue area in 2007 made a median wage of $32.81 an hour or $68,250 a year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Half of them made between $57,220 and $78,830.
The job: Surveyors establish official land, airspace and water boundaries. They write descriptions of land for deeds, leases and other legal documents; define airspace for airports; and take measurements of construction and mineral sites. Other surveyors provide data about the shape, contour, location, elevation or dimension of land or land features.
In the field, they select known survey reference points and determine the precise location of important features in the survey area using special equipment. They also research legal records, look for evidence of previous boundaries and analyze data to determine the location of boundary lines. Surveyors also record their results, verify the accuracy of data and prepare maps and reports.
Surveyors usually work an eight-hour day, five days a week, and may spend a lot of time outdoors. Sometimes, they work longer hours during the summer, when weather and light are most suitable for field work. Construction-related work may be limited during bad weather.
Demand: Overall employment of surveyors, cartographers and related technicians is expected to increase by 21 percent from 2006 to 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
Training: Most surveyors have a bachelor's degree in surveying or a related field. Every state requires that surveyors be licensed; Washington licenses professional land surveyors, who must pass written exams, and it certifies surveyors in training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: www.stats.bls.gov/oco
Read more: Salary and benefits , What this Job Pays
By Anthony E. Fields Jr. on October 1, 2008 2:18 PM
I WORK FOR THREE COMPANY IN BRIMINGHAM,AL.I TRIED TO APPLY TO COMPANIES HERE IN SEATTLE,BUT, I GET NO RESPONES.I'M A VERY GOOD RODMAN & INSTERMENTMAN.IF YOU KNOW OF ANY COPANIES TNAT ARE HIRING GIVE THEM MY PHONE # (206)551-3705. THANKS, ANTHONY E. FIELDS JR.