How to become a Land Surveyor

Locates and defines public and private land boundaries by using precise measuring equipment.

Main tasks

• Uses specialised technical equipment, such as theodolites, GPS, lasers, and aerial and terrestrial scanners, to take, record and collate measurements and locations in relation to land boundaries
• Establishes site horizontal and vertical height data
• Determines the position of boundaries of public or private land, and prepares plans and associated documents
• Develops and establishes reference systems for geographic and land information
• Consults with other professionals such as Architects and engineers, to ensure land development projects are completed to plan
• Works with government officials and other stakeholders to ensure that land development projects are completed in compliance with regulations and local laws
• Sets-out land and building developments
• May map out positions of boundaries where land is subdivided, bought or sold, and plan and provide critical professional advice for project developments in land and buildings

Ways in

• University: Architecture & Built Environment degrees, Offered by 24 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying (CPC60121); Advanced Diploma of Surveying (CPP60121); Certificate III in Surveying and Spatial Information Services (CPP30221); Certificate IV in Surveying and Spatial Information Services (CPP41721); Diploma of Surveying (CPP50121)
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing may be required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $119,600 a year
• About 19,600 people work in this job group now, and about 23,200 are projected by 2035. (+18.6%)
• AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Related jobs

• Cartographer
• Engineering Surveyor
• Geospatial Specialist
• Mine Surveyor

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Land Surveyor?

Ways in include: Architecture & Built Environment degrees; Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying; Advanced Diploma of Surveying.

How much does a Land Surveyor earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $119,600 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Land Surveyor a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 19% by 2035, from about 19,600 to about 23,200 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Land Surveyor?

Not always. 53% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Architecture & Built Environment degrees; Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying; Advanced Diploma of Surveying.

Will AI change the work of a Land Surveyor?

AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04