Surveying and mapping technicians visit sites to record survey measurements, search for old survey markers or set new ones, operate surveying instruments such as electronic distance-measuring equipment, enter the data into computers, select, edit and process images to create or update maps, and help photogrammetrists lay out aerial photographs.
The short answer: mixed exposure, with faster than average growth. The ILO's 2025 index rates the closest groups as follows: civil engineering technicians are not exposed, at 0.28, and cartographers and surveyors are in gradient 2, at 0.44. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with about 6,900 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed surveying and mapping technicians are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering Technicians | Not exposed | 0.28 |
| Cartographers and Surveyors | Gradient 2 | 0.44 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so these are the closest groups for surveying and mapping technicians, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Surveying and mapping technicians | Grow 6% | About 6,900 |
The BLS says increased demand for map information is expected to require these technicians to gather and prepare related data. It says that although drones and other advancements make some aspects of survey work more efficient, surveying and mapping technicians will continue to be needed to review and interpret the output of these technologies to ensure accuracy and completeness.
What automation is taking on
- Parts of survey data collection, made more efficient by drones and other advancements, as the BLS describes.
- Processing images into new or updated maps.
- Moving instrument data into computer files.
What stays with surveying and mapping technicians
- Site visits: taking measurements and finding or setting survey markers.
- Instruments: operating surveying equipment in the field.
- Accuracy: reviewing drone and other output for accuracy and completeness, as the BLS describes.
- Checking AI help: generated maps and processed images can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
The BLS expects more demand for map information, and says new tools such as drones still need people to review their output. Fieldwork and quality checks stay with the technician. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace surveyors?, will AI replace cartographers? and will AI replace civil engineering technicians?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for surveying and mapping technicians at $54,240 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: high school diploma or equivalent. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace surveying and mapping technicians?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 6 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 6,900 openings a year.
How exposed are surveying and mapping technicians to AI?
The closest ILO groups are civil engineering technicians, not exposed at 0.28, and cartographers and surveyors, gradient 2 at 0.44.
Do drones replace survey technicians?
The BLS says drones make some survey work more efficient, but technicians are still needed to review and interpret the output for accuracy and completeness.
What do surveying and mapping technicians do?
They record survey measurements on site, set markers, run surveying instruments, enter data and process images into maps.