Geodetic Surveyors
Measure large areas of the Earth's surface using satellite observations, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), light detection and ranging (LIDAR), or related sources.
$75,440 a year (for the broader BLS group this job sits in).
of the working time. Estimate.
- 70%
- 9%
- 22%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 22%. Today's estimate: 34%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 16 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conduct surveys to determine exact positions, measurement of points, elevations, lines, areas, volumes, contours, or other features of land surfaces.Done daily by most who do it. | 12% | 6.7 h2.5 h to 2.5 work days | Stays with people | |
| Analyze control or survey data to ensure adherence to project specifications or land survey standards.Done daily by most who do it. | 10% | 3.3 h50 min to 6.7 h | 32%Half by Jan 2027 | |
| Calculate the exact horizontal and vertical position of points on the Earth's surface.Done daily by most who do it. | 10% | 2.5 h50 min to 5 h | 55%Half by now | |
| Determine orientation of tracts of land, including position, boundaries, size, and shape, using theodolites, electronic distance-measuring equipment, satellite-based positioning equipment, land information systems, or other geodetic survey equipment.Done daily by most who do it. | 9% | 6.7 h3.3 h to 2.1 work days | Stays with people | |
| Plan or direct the work of geodetic surveying staff, providing technical consultation as needed.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 9% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Compute horizontal and vertical coordinates of control networks, using direct leveling or other geodetic survey techniques, such as triangulation, trilateration, and traversing, to establish features of the Earth's surface.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 8% | 5 h2.5 h to 1.3 work days | 22%Half by Jan 2027 | |
| Review existing standards, controls, or equipment used, recommending changes or upgrades as needed.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 7% | 3.3 h1.7 h to 6.7 h | 49%Half by now | |
| Assess the quality of control data to determine the need for additional survey data for engineering, construction, or other projects.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 7% | 2.5 h1.3 h to 5 h | 70%Half by now | |
| Maintain databases of geodetic and related information, including coordinate, descriptive, or quality assurance data.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 7% | 1.7 h25 min to 4.2 h | 57%Half by now | |
| Compute, retrace, or adjust existing surveys of features such as highway alignments, property boundaries, utilities, control and other surveys to match the ground elevation-dependent grids, geodetic grids, or property boundaries and to ensure accuracy and continuity of data used in engineering, surveying, or construction projects.Done yearly or less by most who do it. | 6% | 4.2 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | 23%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Verify the mathematical correctness of newly collected survey data.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 1.7 h25 min to 3.3 h | 65%Half by now | |
| Prepare progress or technical reports.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 3% | 2.5 h50 min to 1 work day | 40%Half by Dec 2026 |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians39% now, 69% by 2028
- Surveyors12% now, 57% by 2028
- Cartographers and Photogrammetrists20% now, 98% by 2028
- Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians13% now, 41% by 2028
- Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians26% now, 95% by 2028
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists6% now, 66% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.