Land Survey Technologists and Technicians

(NOC 2254)

in All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

Land survey technologists and technicians conduct or participate in surveys to determine the exact locations and relative positions of natural features and other structures on the earth's surface, underground, and underwater. They work for all levels of government, architectural and engineering firms, and by private sector surveying companies. Land survey technologists and technicians may specialize in one of the following types of surveys: geodetic survey, topographic survey, legal (cadastral) survey or engineering survey.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

  • Estimate 3410 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5690 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$18.46

Minimum

$26.19

Median

$39.72

Maximum

Annual Pay

$21,258

Minimum

$47,578

Median

$70,231

Maximum

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

Hourly Pay

$18.00

Minimum

$34.90

Median

$54.10

Maximum

Annual Pay

$13,568

Minimum

$60,422

Median

$107,009

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Land survey technologists and technicians conduct or participate in surveys to determine the exact locations and relative positions of natural features and other structures on the earth's surface, underground, and underwater. They work for all levels of government, architectural and engineering firms, and by private sector surveying companies. Land survey technologists and technicians may specialize in one of the following types of surveys: geodetic survey, topographic survey, legal (cadastral) survey or engineering survey.

Job duties

Land survey technologists:

  • Help survey engineers or professional surveyors develop methods and procedures for conducting field surveys.
  • Conduct field surveys and use survey instruments and computer equipment to measure distance, angles, elevations, and contours.
  • Record measurements and other information obtained during field survey activities.
  • Determine precise geographic locations using global positioning systems (GPS) equipment.
  • Analyze latitude, longitude and angles and compute trigonometric and other calculations to plot features, contours, and areas to a specific scale.
  • Prepare detailed drawings, charts and plans and survey notes and reports.
  • Supervise and coordinate field survey activities.

Land survey technicians:

  • Participate in field surveys and use survey instruments and devices.
  • Keep records, measurements, and other survey information in systematic order.
  • Help calculate, analyse, and calculate measurements taken during field surveys.
  • Help in prepare detailed drawings, charts, and plans.

Sample job titles

  • engineering survey technician
  • geomatics technician - land surveying
  • geomatics technologist - land surveying
  • land survey technician
  • legal survey technologist
  • marine survey technician
  • offshore survey enigneer
  • topographic survey technician
  • transit operator - surveying

Skills

  • You should be physically fit and enjoy working outdoors. Good health, eyesight, and manual dexterity are necessary. You must be capable of precise and detailed work, and be able to complete 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 necessary.

Job requirements

  • High school is usually required.
  • A two- to three-year college program in geomatics or land survey technology is usually required for land survey technologists.
  • A one- to two-year college program in geomatics or land survey technology is usually required for land survey technicians.
  • Certification by provincial associations of technicians and technologists may be required by some employers.

Other considerations

  • Movement is possible between the various jobs in this group. Movement to supervisor positions is possible with experience. Movement to land surveyor positions is possible by completing the professional surveyor examinations and certification. Geomatics is an interdisciplinary field encompassing the collection, analysis and presentation of geographically referenced data.

By the numbers

Quick look

230

employed in 2016

87.0%

employed full-time

4.3%

self employed

13.0%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
87%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
43.2

median age

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

25,875

employed in 2016

91.5%

employed full-time

7.6%

self employed

20.0%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
80%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
42.8

median age

Where will I likely work?

30.4%

Halifax

$50,136 median annual income
28.3%

North Shore

$52,387 median annual income
15.2%

Annapolis Valley

N/A
13.0%

Southern

$32,701 median annual income
13.0%

Cape Breton

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

42.9%

Professional, scientific and technical services

37.1%

Public administration

14.3%

Construction

5.7%

Transportation and warehousing

What is the age of Employment?

28.0%

55-64

23.0%

35-44

19.0%

25-34

16.0%

45-54

14.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

24.2%

25-34

23.5%

45-54

23.4%

35-44

16.4%

55-64

7.7%

15-24

Top levels of education

66.7%

College Diploma

$51,961 median annual income
8.9%

High school

N/A
8.9%

Trade Certification

N/A
6.7%

Less than high school

N/A
6.7%

Diploma Below Bachelor

N/A

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

33.1%

College Diploma

$59,986 median annual income
29.8%

Bachelor

$63,965 median annual income
11.9%

High school

$45,835 median annual income
9.9%

Master

$65,105 median annual income
6.9%

Trade Certification

$57,773 median annual income

Education & training

Geographic Information Science and Cartography

College, Trades, or University Program

These 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

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Geography

College or University Program

These 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

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Surveying Technology

College or Trades Program

These 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

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors
Dartmouth, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.