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Careersβ€ΊRolesβ€ΊMineral Surveying Technician
Mid-Level

Mineral Surveying Technician

Mineral Surveying Technicians support mine and mineral exploration surveys with hands-on field, instrument, and computational work β€” operating equipment, supporting development monitoring, processing data, and contributing to maps that drive mining operations. The work tends to mix demanding field conditions with technical detail.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
R
C
I
A
E
S
Realistichands-on, practical
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Mineral Surveying Technicians
Financial ServicesProfessional Services Β· 68%Government Β· 13%Administrative Services Β· 8%Energy & Utilities Β· 4%Construction Β· 4%
Job markets for Mineral Surveying Technicians
Where Mineral Surveying Technician jobs concentrate Β· ~212 metro areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Engineering
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Mineral Surveying Technician

Most days mix field operations and office data work β€” running survey instruments at active mines or exploration sites, supporting boundary or volume calculations, processing data into CAD or specialized mining software, and producing maps and reports for engineers and surveyors. You're often working at mining operations, exploration camps, or specialty survey firms, and the mine type β€” surface, underground, hard rock, coal β€” shapes daily exposure.

What tends to be harder than people expect is the field conditions combined with safety culture. Underground confined spaces, heavy equipment proximity, and MSHA standards structure how work gets done, and remote site rotations can be substantial in many operations. Commodity cycles affect industry stability, and travel is often part of the role.

People who tend to thrive here are physically capable, comfortable in industrial environments, mathematically careful, and quietly safety-conscious. If you want pure office work, mining work lives in the field. If you like the niche craft of supporting mining operations with accurate spatial work, the role offers durable demand within the sector and a clear ladder toward mine surveyor or PLS pursuit.

What people in this role value
SupportModerate
IndependenceModerate
RelationshipsLower
Working ConditionsLower
AchievementLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial β€” written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape β€” and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$117K+15%
Professional Services$103K+1%
Energy & Utilities$87K-14%
Financial Services$86K-16%
Wholesale & Distribution$74K-28%
Compared to Engineering average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Mineral Surveying Technicians (SOC 17-3031.00), not just this title Β· BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Engineering β†’
Mineral Surveying TechnicianField Technician (Field Tech)Geospatial AnalystDrafting TechnicianInstrumentation TechnicianEngineering AssistantSurveyorGeodetic ComputatorAerotriangulation SpecialistAerial Photograph InterpreterCAD Technician (Computer Aided Design Technician)Stereo CompilerStereoplotter OperatorPhotogrammetric TechnicianSurvey Field TechnicianLevelmanChain CarrierAx Survey WorkerCartographic AideMapping TechnicianSurveying TechnicianInstrument Man (I-Man)Land Surveying Survey WorkerGeophysical Prospecting Surveying TechnicianGIS Mapping Technician (Geographic Information Systems Mapping Technician)
Exploring the Mineral Surveying Technician career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit β€” and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial β€” career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape β€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$37K–$81K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
57K
U.S. Employment
+4.5%
10yr Growth
8K
Annual Openings

How Mineral Surveying Technician pay & employment are changing

$77K$74K$71K$68K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$77K
BLS OEWS May 2024 Β· BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingMathematicsWritingMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningSpeakingActive LearningCoordination
O*NET OnLine Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
17-3031.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midField Technician (Field Tech)$56KmidGeospatial Analyst$78KseniorSenior Geospatial Analyst$78KseniorSenior Cartographic Technician$80KmidDrafting Technician$65KseniorSenior Drafting Technician$65K
View all Engineering roles β†’

Common questions about what it's like to be a Mineral Surveying Technician

What does a Mineral Surveying Technician do?

Mineral Surveying Technicians support mine and mineral exploration surveys with hands-on field, instrument, and computational work β€” operating equipment, supporting development monitoring, processing data, and contributing to maps that drive mining operations. The work tends to mix demanding field conditions with technical detail.

How much does a Mineral Surveying Technician make?

Median pay for a Mineral Surveying Technician is about $52K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $37K to $81K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).

What skills does a Mineral Surveying Technician need?

Core skills for this role include Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Mathematics, Writing, and Monitoring.

Is a Mineral Surveying Technician in demand?

Employment in this field is projected to grow about 4.5% through 2034, with roughly 56,720 people working in it today (BLS).

What jobs are similar to a Mineral Surveying Technician?

Closely related roles include Field Technician (Field Tech), Geospatial Analyst, and Senior Geospatial Analyst.

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) Β· BLS Employment Projections Β· O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.