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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