Mid-Level

Mineral Surveying Technician

Mineral Surveying Technicians support mine and mineral exploration surveys with hands-on field, instrument, and computational work — 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
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S
Realistichands-on, practical
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Mineral Surveying Technicians
Employment concentration · ~212 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Mineral Surveying Technician

Most days mix field operations and office data work — 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 — surface, underground, hard rock, coal — 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.

SupportModerate
IndependenceModerate
RelationshipsLower
Working ConditionsLower
AchievementLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

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

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Mineral Surveying Technicians (SOC 17-3031.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Mineral Surveying Technician career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — 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 — 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 this category is changing

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

Skills & Requirements

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

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