Headline risk
1%
Very Low RiskSurveying and mapping technicians
AI displacement pressure score for United States AI Work Index, combining global AI task overlap with local wages, employment trends, and demand signals.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Perform surveying and mapping duties, usually under the direction of an engineer, surveyor, cartographer, or photogrammetrist, to obtain data used for construction, mapmaking, boundary location, mining, or other purposes. May calculate mapmaking information and create maps from source data, such as surveying notes, aerial photography, satellite data, or other maps to show topographical features, political boundaries, and other features. May verify accuracy and completeness of maps.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 51,940
Employment 2024
59.4K
Projected Change (2024–34)
4.5%
Openings (2024–34)
7.6K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of surveying and mapping technicians is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations. AI use: 0%
- 2. Check all layers of maps to ensure accuracy, identifying and marking errors and making corrections. AI use: 0%
- 3. Monitor mapping work or the updating of maps to ensure accuracy, inclusion of new or changed information, or compliance with rules and regulations. AI use: 0%
- 4. Compile information necessary to stake projects for construction, using engineering plans. AI use: 0%
- 5. Produce or update overlay maps to show information boundaries, water locations, or topographic features on various base maps or at different scales. AI use: 0%
- 6. Operate and manage land-information computer systems, performing tasks such as storing data, making inquiries, and producing plots and reports. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 40.3 · 52K employed
Under 25: 13% · 25–54: 65% · 55+: 19%
Related
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Data quality
Employment data available
Narrative & sources
Surveying and mapping technicians collect data and make maps of the Earth's surface.
Although they spend some time in an office setting, surveying and mapping technicians may work outdoors in all types of weather to conduct fieldwork. Most surveying and mapping technicians work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
Surveying and mapping technicians typically need a high school diploma. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have additional education or have experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or other technology.
The median annual wage for surveying and mapping technicians was $51,940 in May 2024.
Employment of surveying and mapping technicians is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Important context
This score measures structural AI displacement pressure, not actual job losses. Local wages and demand data are specific to United States AI Work Index; the underlying AI task overlap analysis is consistent across all countries.