Built Environment
Land Surveyor
Property lines still need legal humans.
AI Risk Score: 3/10
Score is our body/liability/scarcity rubric, calibrated against public AI-exposure research.
Data last reviewed: 2026-07-21
What you actually do
Measure and map land boundaries for development, construction, and legal documentation.
Why AI does not easily replace it
Data tools help, but legal sign-off and field validation stay human.
What it pays
$58,000 - $98,000
BLS OOH: Surveyors (May 2025 pay, OEWS)
Salary benchmark year: 2025
How to get in
Surveying degree/certification + FS/PS exams + licensure.
Estimated time to entry: ~48 months (path-dependent).
State-by-state training and licensing links
- NCEES: Member licensing board directory (state-by-state)
- Apprenticeship.gov: State apprenticeship offices
Where demand is growing
Steady demand tied to infrastructure and permitting.
Ready to explore?
Compare this career in the full directory, or run the exposure calculator against your current role.
"The moat is not a prompt. It is responsibility in the real world."
AI risk evidence
- Anthropic Economic Index (2025-26): measured AI usage and task coverage by occupation
- IMF, "New Skills and AI Are Reshaping the Future of Work" (Jan 2026): ~40% of global jobs exposed to AI-driven change
- Stanford HAI AI Index Report 2026 (labor chapters)
- Oxford Martin: The Future of Employment (2013), kept for historical grounding