Land Surveyors
(NOC 2154)
in All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information TechnologyLand surveyors plan, direct and carry out legal surveys to determine the location of property boundaries, contours and other natural or human-made features. They prepare and maintain cross-sectional drawings, official plans, records, and documents relating to these surveys. Land surveyors work for federal, provincial, and municipal governments, private sector land surveying companies, real estate development, natural resource, engineering, and construction firms, or they may be self-employed.
Job Outlook
Average
Read more
Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology
Hourly Pay
$21.42
Minimum$32.00
Median$48.99
MaximumAnnual Pay
$7,871
Minimum$48,880
Median$105,036
MaximumCompared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology
Hourly Pay
$18.00
Minimum$34.90
Median$54.10
MaximumAnnual Pay
$13,568
Minimum$60,422
Median$107,009
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Land surveyors plan, direct and carry out legal surveys to determine the location of property boundaries, contours and other natural or human-made features. They prepare and maintain cross-sectional drawings, official plans, records, and documents relating to these surveys. Land surveyors work for federal, provincial, and municipal governments, private sector land surveying companies, real estate development, natural resource, engineering, and construction firms, or they may be self-employed.
Job duties
Land surveyors:
- Develop survey plans, methods, and procedures for conducting legal surveys.
- Survey to confirm and mark legal boundaries of properties, parcels of lands, provincial and Canada Lands, Aboriginal land claims, wellsites, mining claims, utility rights-of-way, roadways, and highways.
- Survey and lay out subdivisions for rural and urban development.
- Determine precise locations using electronic distance measuring equipment and global positioning systems (GPS).
- Analyze, manage, and display data using geographic information systems (GIS) and computer-aided design and drafting (CAD).
- Record all measurements and other information collected during survey activities.
- Prepare and compile all data, plans, charts, records, and documents related to surveys of real property boundaries.
- Certify and assume liability for surveys made to determine real property boundaries.
- Consult and testify as an expert witness on matters related to legal surveys.
Sample job titles
- Canada lands surveyor
- land survey supervisor
- land surveyor
- legal surveyor
- pipeline surveyor
- property surveyor
- provincial land surveyor
Skills
- You should be physically fit and enjoy working outdoors. Good health and eyesight are necessary. You must be capable of precise and detailed work, and be able to perform mathematical calculations quickly. Strong technical abilities in the use of new and emerging technologies and an aptitude for mathematics and physics at the high school level are important. A high level of communication skills is essential. You must be able to communicate in spoken and written form on technical, legal, and business issues.
Job requirements
- A bachelor's degree in geomatics engineering or survey engineering or a college diploma in survey science or geomatics technology with additional academic credits and successful completion of equivalent examinations set by a regional board of examiners for land surveyors.
- A one- to three-year articling period is required.
- Successful completion of professional land surveyor examinations is required.
- A federal or provincial land surveyor's licence is required.
- Federal statutes require a separate licence from the Association of Canada Land Surveyors to survey areas like national parks, Aboriginal lands, offshore areas and northern territories.
Other considerations
- Work in these jobs is seasonal, with unemployment highest in the winter months. Surveyors usually work regular hours; however, they often work longer hours during the summer to meet their clients' deadlines.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
$58,503 median annual incomeNorth Shore
$56,896 median annual incomeCape Breton
$35,346 median annual incomeAnnapolis Valley
N/ASouthern
N/ACompared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Professional, scientific and technical services
Construction
Public administration
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
What is the age of Employment?
35-44
55-64
25-34
65+
45-54
Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology
25-34
45-54
35-44
55-64
15-24
Top levels of education
College Diploma
$50,163 median annual incomeBachelor
$45,667 median annual incomeTrade Certification
N/AHigh school
N/ADiploma Above Bachelor
N/ACompared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology
College Diploma
$59,986 median annual incomeBachelor
$63,965 median annual incomeHigh school
$45,835 median annual incomeMaster
$65,105 median annual incomeTrade Certification
$57,773 median annual incomeEducation & training
Geographic Information Science and Cartography
College, Trades, or University ProgramThese programs focus on the systematic study of mapmaking and the application of mathematical, computer, and other techniques to the science of mapping geographic information. They include courses in cartographic theory and map projections, computer-assisted cartography, map design and layout, photogrammetry, air photo interpretation, remote sensing, cartographic editing, and applications to specific industrial, commercial, research, and governmental mapping problems.
Institutions providing this program
Various, NS
Geography
College or University ProgramThese programs focus on the systematic study of the spatial distribution and interrelationships of people, natural resources, plant and animal life. They include courses in historical and political geography, cultural geography, economic and physical geography, regional science, cartographic methods, remote sensing, spatial analysis, and applications to areas like land-use planning, development studies, and analyses of specific countries, regions, and resources.
Institutions providing this program
Surveying Technology
College or Trades ProgramThese programs prepare students to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the delineation, determination, planning and positioning of land tracts, land and water boundaries, land contours and features, and preparing related maps, charts and reports. They include courses in applied geodesy, computer graphics, photointerpretation, plane and geodetic surveying, mensuration, traversing, survey equipment operation and maintenance, instrument calibration, and basic cartography.
Institutions providing this program
Various, NS
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Right to Title and Practice: This job is regulated. The job title is protected, and you may not use it without a professional licence. A licence shows that the holder has met provincial requirements and is required to legally do this work.
Not Provincially Regulated: This job may be regulated by a federal regulatory body.
Contacts
Additional resources
There are no additional resources for this occupation.