Career Shift from Structural Engineer to Surveyor 1

[westheimer1234]

I was thinking of going back to school to increase my marketability.
Is surveyor a good choice? What's the market for entry level surveyor.
Any other tips?

Thanks,

 

[IRstuff]

That seems a bit obscure. Surveying doesn't sound like an engineering job.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[TDAA]

Probably more marketable if you were doing civil design, but I do not see it as a real asset for structural, assuming you were wanting to do both. Just my opinion.

I think if you want totally switch to survey, well,they are slow like the rest of the construction industry, but will probably pick up a bit sooner than some aspects due to the up-front type of work they do.

 

[racookpe1978]

"Entry level" (anything) would imply a significant drop in salary from engineer (anything).

If you have doubts, it may be your inner conscious telling to think twice.

But regardless, you've got to enjoy what you're doing. If being outdoors and enjoying your skills is recompense for being cooped up in a non-rewarding job, go for it!

Me? I prefer field engineering, maintenance and outage plant engineering and repair supervision far, far better than paper-copy designing. But then again, it was a good pay hike as well.

(And pay hikes tend to make the many months in the road in hotel rooms more palatable to the spousal unit.)

 

[rowingengineer]

Got a friend that is both a civil engineer and surveyor, doesn't increase his wage or marketability.

however if you mean building surveyor this could be an advantage.

Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in mud. After a while you realize that they like it

 

[Bobber1]

Here in Southern California, the only really successful surveyors run their own firms. Surveyors working wages all seem to be out of work right now. And also around here, the most successful surveying firms are the MBE's and WBE's who are still surviving due to the "balanced" playing field.

If you want to work construction, you will likely have to join an "engineers" union.

But the real deal: If ya love running the gun and measuring the earth, there ain't nothin' like it. (I miss surveying, but I sure hated lugging that stuff around. And setting up a tripod is a lot like dancing with a crippled girl, if you will excuse my political incorrectness.)

 

[westheimer1234]

ok, i guess it's a bad idea based on your answers.

 

[abusementpark]

Not to mention that surveying is lame IMHO. Yuck.

 

[engrTman]

Surveying is a great job but the pay and "lower pay" stigma associated with it makes it a deal breaker for most engineers looking to get ahead. IF you want to keep moving up, don't mention to your current employer your interest in a perceived lower paying position such as surveying or drafting or whatever. It will kill your career. If you want to start your own business, then that's a different story. Advice from a Civil to a Civil/Struct. Good luck.

 

[brandoncdg]

We work very closely with a Surveying company. They use to be a full service Civil with structural, civil and surveying. Over time surveying was what made them money. One of the owners is one of the smartest engineers I have met and can do whatever structural calcs like nothing with a pencil and paper. But he loves drawing surveys. All the owners are pretty well off.

It's not always about the initial lower upfront pay.

Civil Development Group, LLC
Los Angeles Civil Engineering specializing in Hillside Grading

http://www.civildevelopmentgroup.com

http://www.civildevelopmentgroup.com/blog

 

[Hoagie]

Westheimer,

I’m both a PE and PLS. I support your idea.

Surveying is a noble profession and an ambitious person can do okay, money-wise, with time. You will have to be patient for a few more years while you get your training and licensing in order and completed.

Basically, you will need a year in the field, then maybe 2-years in the office performing mapping and calculations, and then another year studying legal issues. It all depends on how fast you learn--- obviously, you’re smart….you want out of structural…lol. Another thing is that you will have to tolerate some pretty-dumb nonsense from weenies, like abusementpark.

Good luck. I hope you make the move.

h.

 

[RoyTyrell]

As an engineer -- I am sure you took plenty of math and statistics courses. Probably know a little bit of programming?

I live in houston - that is a hint to where the jobs are.

 

[SpecialEddie]

Westheimer,

Any experience in land surveying would be invaluable experience. No matter if as a rod man for a year or two, or if you stick with it for 4 or 5 years and earn your PLS. As a principal in a very successful mid-sized structural engineering firm that does both bridges and new building projects, I would hire someone with your background (some broad structural AND real land surveying experience) in a heartbeat over some arrogant structural office sissy like someone in a previous post who had the nerve to disrepect and disregard surveying as some sort of a low-level, menial job. Land surveying is the noblest of the construction related "professions" (yes Abusementpark, land surveyors ARE professionals). Without them, none of us would even have jobs or a need to exist. I say go for it if you're really into it.

 

[brandoncdg]

Someone said surveying is low level? That is insane! I could say there is a higher chance of people in that field not being as college educated as engineers, but I am sure most people who went to college know that means nothing.

I have gone in the field to shoot ties and tie out an intersection, and let's just say doing a job in the correct amount of time is no easy feat.

Civil Development Group, LLC
Los Angeles Civil Engineering specializing in Hillside Grading

http://www.civildevelopmentgroup.com

http://www.civildevelopmentgroup.com/blog

 

[Bobber1]

There are some pretty cool laser scanners for doing as-builts. That alone would be a fun specialty. Start up costs may be high, though.

Or how about providing anchor bolt surveying services to Contractors - they can never seem to get them in the right place to begin with!

Maybe look for a niche market like the above.

 

[desnov74]

SpecialEddie
"in heartbeat over some arrogant structural office sissy" That's so true and well put! I'm not structural or civil, but you know that I find that field stuff is where its at.

My career has taken a lot of hits, but the thing that keeps pulling me out of mud and progressing my career is the practice of the practical. Technical know how + engineering thorey makes the master.

Go for it.

 

[Bobber1]

When I worked for a contractor, I met a young engineer who was a sales rep for Leitz, selling surveying equipments. He loved his job and would stay on the jobsite demonstrating his wares all night if we wanted him to. He touched the transits like they were his personal babies.

 

[HSNIC]

I am kind of like you. I started out in surveying and went into site/civil engineering. I did not like it and the people in the private development business were really pushy. All the projects I came across were condos, shopping malls and Wally-Worlds. It did not register as Civil to me.

I had a great time surveying and learned it from some great party chiefs. I switched into geo-structural engineering and have incorporated many surveying tactics in my field engineering. Like mentioned before, Surveying is most related to Civil-Land Development.

The biggest thing is you must go back to school for two years to get a B.S. in Surveying and a Surveyor In Training certificate.

You probably have to hire a site/civil person unless you know it. That way you can use your P.L.S. to stake out curbs and road centerlines in the same projects.

 

[Drumchaser]

I performed field layout for bridges and highways over 20 years ago, it was very rewarding. Profiling concrete/steel girders and grading bridge slabs is very challenging.

If you like that sort of stuff.

I would agree with other posts that Land Surveying is only lucrative when you are some part owner in the firm.