Land surveyors are professionals who measure the surface of the Earth and create maps based on the information that they collect. The cost of a land surveyor is dependent on several areas of consideration, including the individual’s education and amount of experience in the field. In addition, the region in which the company operates and whether a job applicant is certified in the industry also play a role in determining a surveyor’s wage.
One factor that affects the cost of a land surveyor is the person’s level of education. For instance, most employers look for a professional in the field who has at least a four-year bachelor’s degree through a university. Some vocational schools, however, also offer one-, two-, and three-year training programs in surveying technology. Even though students can complete these programs more quickly and therefore enter the workforce sooner, companies often pay these individuals lower salaries — sometimes half of what they pay earners of bachelor’s degrees — simply because they have less education. Employers view more education as a greater benefit to their companies, so they are willing to pay the greater costs of hiring employees who have higher degrees.
Years of experience additionally impact salaries in this field. For instance, a professional who has two decades or more of experience in the industry can demand a wage up to five times higher than can a person who has between one year and four years of experience in the field. A company manager is willing to absorb the higher cost of a land surveyor who has more relevant experience because he or she believes that the surveyor is more capable of helping his or her company to achieve its long-term business goals.
A locale in which a hiring organization is established has an effect on how much it pays employees in this industry as well. The cost of a land surveyor is higher in a metropolitan area because these vicinities feature more potential clients that are willing to pay for a surveying firm’s services. More rural areas attract fewer customers and thus must pay lower salaries to professionals.
Industry certification additionally has a bearing on the wages that a worker in this career area receives. Societies in the field feature voluntary credential programs that allow surveyors to complete exams and earn designations. Although certification is not required to practice in this industry, employers typically prefer certified professionals because these workers essentially prove that they are well-versed in their areas of study. The cost of a land surveyor is higher for someone who has a field credential because this type of individual easily can assume a position that requires a greater level of responsibility at his or her organization.
