Geodetic Surveyors
Machines can already do 43% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 72%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Geodetic Surveyors in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 43% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2029, and 72% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 50,830 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $75,440 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 65% for contact with people.
- Also called: Geodesist, Geodetic Advisor, Geodetic Engineer, Geodetic Survey Director.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conduct surveys to determine exact positions, measurement of points, elevations, lines, areas, volumes, contours, or other features of land surfaces | 15% | 3% to 30% | |
| Analyze control or survey data to ensure adherence to project specifications or land survey standards | 11% | 60% to 90% | |
| Calculate the exact horizontal and vertical position of points on the Earth's surface | 10% | 50% to 85% | |
| 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 | 10% | 50% to 85% | |
| Plan or direct the work of geodetic surveying staff, providing technical consultation as needed | 8% | 10% to 30% | |
| Maintain databases of geodetic and related information, including coordinate, descriptive, or quality assurance data | 7% | 70% to 95% | |
| Prepare progress or technical reports | 7% | 70% to 95% | |
| Verify the mathematical correctness of newly collected survey data | 6% | 70% to 95% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills geodetic surveyors use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians70% of tasks by 2035 · US median $53,350
- Hydrologic Technicians69% of tasks by 2035 · US median $64,790
- Hydrologists68% of tasks by 2035 · US median $96,600
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators66% of tasks by 2035 · US median $99,130
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Geodetic Surveyors?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2029. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of geodetic surveyors?
Machines can do 43% of the tasks of geodetic surveyors today and 72% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 17-1022.01 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Geodetic Surveyors: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/geodetic-surveyors/