Property lines, parcels, and ownership boundaries have to be mapped precisely, and that's your work: translating legal descriptions and surveys into the official maps of who owns what. Where law, geography, and precision meet on a parcel map.
A lot of it is exacting and screen-based: interpreting deeds and survey data, plotting boundaries in GIS or CAD, and maintaining the parcel records a county or firm relies on. A boundary off by inches can spark a real dispute, so the craft sits in careful interpretation and precise drafting. You'll often coordinate with surveyors, assessors, and legal records.
The rhythm depends on where you work. A county office tends toward steady record maintenance and public requests; a private firm can bring varied projects and tighter deadlines. Old records can be messy and contradictory — handwritten deeds, conflicting surveys — and untangling them takes patience. The technology has shifted heavily to GIS, so staying current is part of the job.
The people who last tend to be detail-obsessed and comfortable with legal precision, who find a quiet satisfaction in getting boundaries exactly right. If you want fast-paced or highly visible work, the meticulous, behind-the-scenes nature may feel narrow. But for those who like bringing order to the messy record of who owns what, it can be steady and genuinely grounding.
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Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths
View all Engineering roles →Property lines, parcels, and ownership boundaries have to be mapped precisely, and that's your work: translating legal descriptions and surveys into the official maps of who owns what. Where law, geography, and precision meet on a parcel map.
Median pay for a Cadastral Mapper is about $78K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $51K to $121K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Reading Comprehension, Writing, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Active Learning.
Most people in this role hold a some college.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 6.4% through 2034, with roughly 12,790 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Imagery Analyst, Junior Imagery Analyst, and Senior Imagery Analyst.
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