Surveying Careers | Become a Professional Surveyor in WA

What do Surveyors do?

Surveyors are the hidden heroes who help shape the world around us. Every building, road, mine, and boundary starts with their precise measurements and expert knowledge. Whether on a high-rise rooftop, deep underground, or out in the bush, surveyors are there—mapping, measuring, and making it happen

No Caption

The Role of a Surveyor

Surveyors use cutting-edge tech like GPS, drones, laser scanners, and satellite data to measure the earth with amazing accuracy. The information they collect becomes the blueprint for architects, engineers, and builders to bring projects to life.

From mapping out the next city skyscraper to ensuring your local school is built in the right spot—surveyors play a key role in land development, construction, mining, transport, and environmental projects.

Where Can You Work?

Surveying is far from a desk job. You could be working:

In cities setting out roads, bridges, buildings, and utilities

On remote mine sites helping extract valuable resources

Along the coast or even offshore mapping land and sea

Underground on major tunnelling and infrastructure projects

Wherever major projects happen, surveyors are there.

Who Do Surveyors Work With?

Surveyors collaborate with engineers, architects, builders, land developers, planners, and government agencies. They’re also trusted by landowners and lawyers for legal boundary surveys and property planning.

Surveying = High Tech + Adventure + Impact

Love maths, geography, physics, or IT?

Want to work outdoors AND with technology?

Interested in a career that’s in demand and well paid?

Study Pathways

Surveying could be the perfect fit. There’s a serious skills shortage in WA, meaning job security and competitive salaries—graduate surveyors earn around $65K–$70K, with experienced professionals earning $100K+, and even more in specialist roles.

Surveyors are fortunate to work within industries that pay above average earnings. In particular those aged 15 to 29 can earn 30% higher than those in other professions. The demand for surveyors is high which helps to keep these earnings 9.6% above all occupations’ average earnings.

To become a qualified Surveyor, you will need to study a recognised tertiary course, whether it be at University or TAFE. You should also be good at maths, have an interest in science, Geography, Physics, Engineering and IT and enjoy the outdoors.

You can become a surveyor through:

TAFE: Start with Certificate III at North Metro TAFE and work up to an Advanced Diploma in Engineering or Mine Surveying.
University: Curtin University offers a Bachelor of Surveying (Honours) or a Bachelor of Mine and Engineering Surveying.
Then, you can become a Licensed Surveyor with further training and experience.

Women in Surveying? Absolutely.

The profession has changed. New tech means the job’s less physically demanding, and women now lead companies, manage big projects, and even hold Surveyor General roles in WA and NSW.

Wherever major projects happen, surveyors are there.

SURVEYOR FACT SHEET

*Source: BIS Oxford Economics Demand Study March 2019