Trades & Construction

How to become a Survey Technician

From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

3–12 months

Typical pay

$42k–$62k

Starting from

No experience

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from no experience and includes any licence or programme legally required — not just course length.

The route

1. 1

   2–6 weeks

   Join a survey crew as a rodman

   Entry level, outdoors, no experience needed. Clearing brush is part of it.

   Typical titles at this level

   • Rodman
   • Survey helper
2. 2

   3–9 months

   Learn the instruments

   Total station, GPS rover and data collector, plus the maths behind them.

   Course that covers thisBlueprint Reading for Welders Basic Lines, Views and SymbolsUdemy · around $49.99 →
3. 3

   Certify as a survey technician

   The NSPS CST levels are a recognised ladder and each one is a pay step.

   ◆ NSPS Certified Survey Technician

4. 4

   4+ years

   Decide on the licence track

   Licensed surveyor needs a degree and years under a PLS — a much larger commitment.

5. ✓

   Destination

   Survey Technician

   Browse jobs now →

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