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Skills that raise your pay

• Laser scanning and drone mapping

  Capturing a whole site as a point cloud. Firms charge a premium and there are not enough people who can do it well.

• Geographic information systems

  Turning survey data into maps and databases that planners and utilities pay for.

• Hydrographic surveying

  Measuring the bottom of rivers, harbors and coasts. A small, well paid niche.

• Expert witness work

  Experienced surveyors get paid by the hour to explain boundaries in court.

• A second state license

  Two licenses along a state line roughly doubles the work you can take.