by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 79 U.S. colleges awarded 1,117 degrees and certificates in Surveying Technology/Surveying. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 32% of graduates. College Factual ranks 30 schools in its 2027 Best Surveying Technology/Surveying Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $61,962 one year after completing, rising to $75,297 after four years.
Studying Surveying Technology/Surveying covers Surveying Technology/surveying. A Program That Prepares Individuals 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 The Preparation Of Related Maps, Charts And Reports. Includes Instruction In Applied Geodesy, Computer Graphics, Photointerpretation, Plane And Geodetic Surveying, Mensuration, Traversing, Survey Equipment Operation And Maintenance, Instrument Calibration, And Basic Cartography.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., surveying technology/surveying draws strong interest, with 1,117 degrees awarded annually. 79 colleges award surveying technology/surveying degrees, an average of 14 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 76.
By level, the 1,117 awards include 164 certificates, 333 associate degrees, 250 bachelor’s degrees, 356 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 13% of surveying technology/surveying degrees and certificates in the latest year (145 of 1,117). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (854) and Hispanic or Latino (143), and international students earned 12.
College Factual ranks 30 schools in its 2027 Best Surveying Technology/Surveying Schools ranking, including 14 for associate degrees and 12 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks surveying technology/surveying schools within 7 states. In all, 79 colleges offer surveying technology/surveying programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Surveying Technology/Surveying Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common surveying technology/surveying credential is the master’s degree: 356 of the 1,117 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to surveying technology/surveying call most for Reading Comprehension, Mathematics and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Mathematics, Geography and Engineering and Technology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Deductive Reasoning and Near Vision.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a surveying technology/surveying degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 164 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 333 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 250 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 356 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to surveying technology/surveying, at 50.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 50.4% |
| Some college courses | 17.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 12.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.2% |
| Master’s degree | 1.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Surveying Technology/Surveying, with an average median salary of $110,334; the strongest outlook belongs to Surveyors, at 15.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Licensed Land Surveyor, Land Surveyor, Land Measurer and Geophysical Prospecting Surveyor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to surveying technology/surveying, at 397,409.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Surveyors | 397,409 | 15.0% |
| Geodetic Surveyors | 69,858 | -3.5% |
| Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | 55,239 | -4.8% |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | 33,541 | -2.7% |
| Drafters, All Other | 32,528 | -1.4% |
Surveying Technology/Surveying graduates earn a median $61,962 one year after completing their program, $75,297 after four years and $64,342 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $61,962 |
| 4 years | $75,297 |
| 5 years | $64,342 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to surveying technology/surveying, with a median salary of $131,353.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Surveyors | $131,353 |
| Geodetic Surveyors | $125,113 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $123,658 |
| Drafters, All Other | $114,777 |
| Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | $56,771 |
Surveying Technology/Surveying has 2 similar majors in the Engineering Technologies field, which together award 218 degrees a year; the largest are Hydraulics and Fluid Power Technology/Technician (147) and Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other (71). Browse all Engineering Technologies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Hydraulics and Fluid Power Technology/Technician | 147 |
| Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other | 71 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
