Not to many young guys/girls coming into the survey field.
I know i'm not the first to point this out...just reallly noticing it lately..
Society doesn't like a vacuum, so my fear is P.e's or worse L.A's will fill the void..
our salaries are so low the few we do attract move on to better jobs after a few years.
Lots of young people in this area. I know 2 licensed surveyors in the area that are under 30, and we have two young employees that will soon be licensed. I hear of the age of surveyors problem in other states, but I just don't see the problem here.
They sure are snoop...thats a big problem.
State said I needed a four year degree. Got it with honors. State said I needed four years of experience after receiving said degree (worked full time while attending night school for five years). Got it. State said I needed to pass Fundamentals Exam (done after receiving degree) and Principle and Practice Exam (done after acquiring four more years of progressive experience). Now after acquiring two licenses in two different states, only making $40,000 a year, and no chance for advancement within the company (due to downsizing) I'd say I am ready for a career change at this point and I'm only 29. Many may say if I don't like it where I'm at to move on to another company, but fact is my company treats me well and there just isn't anywhere else to go. We actually happen to be one of the busiest companies in our area and that isn't saying much. And to say it's about the money is wrong because it's not. I was interested in surveying because of the challenges that were presented to you everyday. Those challenges just aren't there anymore. Doing the occasional topo or small lot survey just doesn't cut it for me.
I'm 28 and just got approved to sit for my PLS this coming Fall...I see alot of opportunity in the field because of the retirement age of a majority of the Licensed Surveyors out there. I honestly think it is because of the amount of work that is required to obtain licensure and make any real money. I have a four year degree in Geography and still had to get a two year degree in Land Surveying and obtain 4 addtl years of experience before even being able to apply for my PLS Exam. Many of my peers have jumped straight into higher paid postions with their four year degrees alone. With a four year degree already under my belt it was hard to accept a low paid survey tech postion to gain the expereince I needed, but with my eyes on the prize I have been underemployed now for four years and will soon have my license.
Regards
Rich
We don't need any more surveyors around here, they're thick on the ground, and hungry to boot. It's impossible to simultaneously charge a competitive fee, do a thorough, diligent job and make a comfortable income.
It's getting worse, because all of the laid-off people are hanging out shingles left & right and low-balling for market share.
(and if you say that surveying shouldn't be competitive, your head's up your butt, 'cuz we all have bills to pay & kids to feed.)
2¢
SS
> State said I needed a four year degree. Got it with honors. State said I needed four years of experience after receiving said degree (worked full time while attending night school for five years). Got it. State said I needed to pass Fundamentals Exam (done after receiving degree) and Principle and Practice Exam (done after acquiring four more years of progressive experience). Now after acquiring two licenses in two different states, only making $40,000 a year, and no chance for advancement within the company (due to downsizing) I'd say I am ready for a career change at this point and I'm only 29. Many may say if I don't like it where I'm at to move on to another company, but fact is my company treats me well and there just isn't anywhere else to go. We actually happen to be one of the busiest companies in our area and that isn't saying much. And to say it's about the money is wrong because it's not. I was interested in surveying because of the challenges that were presented to you everyday. Those challenges just aren't there anymore. Doing the occasional topo or small lot survey just doesn't cut it for me.
Herein lies the problem..why on earth would anybody go thru all this to make $40,000 per year? Ok so maybe you make $60,000
Why not spoend as much time in schooling and education get you MBA and work in an investment firm?
60,000 is what I expected after getting licensed, but the reality is the work is not there to justify the salary. I could always ask for a raise, but at this point I'm happy to have a job. Luckily the company saw what I was worth to them now and in the future when things turn around and I wasn't affected by the cuts.
Doing what you love, priceless!
FYI: many people in this world do some things to pay the bills and fill the belly... and do other things to be truly fulfilled; unfortunately many of us are a bit myopic.
I'm already working on other opportunities....
> State said I needed a four year degree. Got it with honors. State said I needed four years of experience after receiving said degree (worked full time while attending night school for five years). Got it. State said I needed to pass Fundamentals Exam (done after receiving degree) and Principle and Practice Exam (done after acquiring four more years of progressive experience). Now after acquiring two licenses in two different states, only making $40,000 a year, and no chance for advancement within the company (due to downsizing) I'd say I am ready for a career change at this point and I'm only 29. Many may say if I don't like it where I'm at to move on to another company, but fact is my company treats me well and there just isn't anywhere else to go. We actually happen to be one of the busiest companies in our area and that isn't saying much. And to say it's about the money is wrong because it's not. I was interested in surveying because of the challenges that were presented to you everyday. Those challenges just aren't there anymore. Doing the occasional topo or small lot survey just doesn't cut it for me.
Your last sentence explains the very reason I am working where I am. If I wanted to do lot surveys all the time, I'd have quit years ago and went out on my own. I like doing different things.
Also, if you're got plenty of work, but aren't making any money, you may not be charging enough. Now, the wages at your company may be all the market will bear, but I would be a little suspicious as to why I had so much more work than everyone else. I don't know the reason, y'all may be better than the others.
You're not going to get that money working for another firm that focuses on lot surveys and small topos. They'll have to expand the client base to afford to pay that kind of salary.
> Lots of young people in this area. I know 2 licensed surveyors in the area that are under 30, and we have two young employees that will soon be licensed. I hear of the age of surveyors problem in other states, but I just don't see the problem here.
Tommy,
Does that have anything to do with the ETSU Surveying program?
TN has a glut of young surveyors. When I took the test up there 5 years or so ago I was impressed by the numbers of people taking the test and at the youth in the room. Maybe the program over at ETSU has something to do with it?
> Also, if you're got plenty of work, but aren't making any money, you may not be charging enough. Now, the wages at your company may be all the market will bear, but I would be a little suspicious as to why I had so much more work than everyone else. I don't know the reason, y'all may be better than the others.
Let us hope it is the latter and not the former. It's an established company (70+ years) and the client base is typically return customers. On average, we are undercut 85% of the time for new work, especially by companies that come from 100+ miles away to do the work and don't understand the complexity of the job. That's fine, they are only cutting their own throats and leaving money on the table. As far as work load is concerned we are busier than our next closest competitor, but to say we are busy is a gross overstatement. I think I'll just keep my head down and keep plugging away. It can only get better from here is my motto.
Heres the recent trend in my state:
Report of Applications Reviewed and Applicants Licensed (2/12/11 – 3/11/11)
Number of Applications Approved for Examination: 376
Number of Applicants Interviewed at this Meeting: 0
Number of Applicants Licensed as an Architect: 27
Number of Applicants Licensed as a Professional Engineer: 42
Number of Applicants Licensed as a Professional Land Surveyor: 1
Total Number Licensed:70
None of the ones I was referring to have ever stepped foot on, or had any association with ETSU. I'd say West Virginia has more ETSU graduates than West Tennessee does. I only know of 2 of us over here.
Joe,
In Ohio for the spring test, 27 were approved to sit for the FS and 23 were approved to sit for the PS. A friend of mine proctored the test in Columbus and there were only 5 sitting there for the PS.
In central Ohio, most of the survey crews are gone. I know of at least 50 crews that are not working any more. Many of them were supported by the single family home development business which is just about non-existent now.
JP
I know of several guys my age (late 20's) that will be taking the pls in the next several years all but one with a BS in Surveying. I will be taking it this October and going out on my own. I think that the market is too crowded in my area. GREEDY?? maybe I am but it only takes one lowballer and it hurts everyone.
