Land Surveyor Jobs in California
Land Surveyor jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in infrastructure development, residential and commercial construction, transportation, and public works across a market that stretches from entry-level field technicians to licensed project managers. The heaviest hiring activity sits in the Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego metros, where firms like AECOM, Michael Baker International, and Psomas maintain long-running California operations. The most in-demand specialties include boundary and topographic surveying, construction staking, and ALTA land title surveys tied to California's ongoing development pipeline. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 30+ Land Surveyor jobs
About TraceAir
TraceAir is a construction SaaS startup that provides data analytics to construction teams to help them better manage their job sites. We currently work with top land developers, home builders, contractors, and engineers across the US and Canada. This is a great chance to work with a fast growing Series B company.
TraceAir Surveying is our drone-based surveying services subsidiary, mainly delivering ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys, topographic surveys, pad certifications, and final plot plan surveys to homebuilders and land developers. We are building the practice in Southern California, and this role will help shape how it grows.
What we do
Today our software guides sitework, so our clients can build on schedule and within budget. Every day across the world, leading industrial, residential, and commercial developers' teams use Traceair to collaborate. For them TraceAir is guiding "single point of truth" that shows and measures daily work progress, helps to optimize the next steps and prevents costly errors.
Position Summary
We are looking for a California-licensed Professional Land Surveyor to join TraceAir's Southern California surveying team as part of TraceAir Surveying, primarily focused on delivering ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys, topographic surveys, pad certifications, and final plot plans for residential land development and homebuilding clients. You will work alongside TraceAir's current PLS in responsible charge, lead assigned surveys from research through delivery, and may serve as the PLS in responsible charge on some projects, reviewing, signing, and sealing those deliverables. The role is expected to grow into the lead PLS for the practice from 2028. You will help shape the survey standards and quality control behind TraceAir's drone-based workflows (LiDAR and photogrammetry), and be a technical face of TraceAir Surveying to homebuilders, developers, title companies, and civil engineers. The practice is deliberately focused: it does not include construction staking or civil engineering. Relationships with civil engineers are a plus. This is a full-time position with no direct reports at hire.
Who you are
- Active California Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license in good standing.
- Demonstrated record of preparing and certifying ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys under the current Minimum Standard Detail Requirements, including work with title companies on commitments and exceptions.
- Residential land development experience: surveys for homebuilders and developers on tract, subdivision, and master-planned community projects.
- Working knowledge of the California Professional Land Surveyors' Act, the Subdivision Map Act, and county surveyor practices in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties.
- Proficiency with AutoCAD Civil 3D and with GNSS/RTK and total station workflows.
- Valid driver's license.
- Preferred: 5+ years of progressive land surveying experience, including 3+ years post-licensure in Southern California, with experience signing and sealing surveys as the PLS in responsible charge.
- Preferred: existing relationships with Southern California homebuilders, land developers, and civil engineers who serve them.
- Preferred: experience certifying topographic surveys produced from drone photogrammetry or LiDAR.
- Preferred: experience with pad certifications on residential grading projects.
- Preferred: bachelor's degree in surveying, geomatics, civil engineering, or a related field.
- Preferred: PLS licensure in additional states.
- Travel: regular travel across Southern California for site visits, client meetings, and county and title company coordination; occasional travel to other markets as the business expands.
Compensation: The expected base salary range for this role is $130k-$160k annually. Compensation may vary based on experience and qualifications. Individual salaries within each range are determined through a wide variety of factors, including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, and skills. In addition to base salary, individuals may be eligible for a discretionary performance bonus.
Some of our perks/benefits
- Flexible PTO
- Medical insurance
- Vision and Dental Insurance fully paid by the Company
- 401K
This position will remain open until the position is filled.
At TraceAir, we’re an equal-opportunity employer that values diversity and positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy or maternity or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
About TraceAir
TraceAir is a construction SaaS startup that provides data analytics to construction teams to help them better manage their job sites. We currently work with top land developers, home builders, contractors, and engineers across the US and Canada. This is a great chance to work with a fast growing Series B company.
TraceAir Surveying is our drone-based surveying services subsidiary, mainly delivering ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys, topographic surveys, pad certifications, and final plot plan surveys to homebuilders and land developers. We are building the practice in Southern California, and this role will help shape how it grows.
What we do
Today our software guides sitework, so our clients can build on schedule and within budget. Every day across the world, leading industrial, residential, and commercial developers' teams use Traceair to collaborate. For them TraceAir is guiding "single point of truth" that shows and measures daily work progress, helps to optimize the next steps and prevents costly errors.
Position Summary
We are looking for a California-licensed Professional Land Surveyor to join TraceAir's Southern California surveying team as part of TraceAir Surveying, primarily focused on delivering ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys, topographic surveys, pad certifications, and final plot plans for residential land development and homebuilding clients. You will work alongside TraceAir's current PLS in responsible charge, lead assigned surveys from research through delivery, and may serve as the PLS in responsible charge on some projects, reviewing, signing, and sealing those deliverables. The role is expected to grow into the lead PLS for the practice from 2028. You will help shape the survey standards and quality control behind TraceAir's drone-based workflows (LiDAR and photogrammetry), and be a technical face of TraceAir Surveying to homebuilders, developers, title companies, and civil engineers. The practice is deliberately focused: it does not include construction staking or civil engineering. Relationships with civil engineers are a plus. This is a full-time position with no direct reports at hire.
Who you are
- Active California Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license in good standing.
- Demonstrated record of preparing and certifying ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys under the current Minimum Standard Detail Requirements, including work with title companies on commitments and exceptions.
- Residential land development experience: surveys for homebuilders and developers on tract, subdivision, and master-planned community projects.
- Working knowledge of the California Professional Land Surveyors' Act, the Subdivision Map Act, and county surveyor practices in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties.
- Proficiency with AutoCAD Civil 3D and with GNSS/RTK and total station workflows.
- Valid driver's license.
- Preferred: 5+ years of progressive land surveying experience, including 3+ years post-licensure in Southern California, with experience signing and sealing surveys as the PLS in responsible charge.
- Preferred: existing relationships with Southern California homebuilders, land developers, and civil engineers who serve them.
- Preferred: experience certifying topographic surveys produced from drone photogrammetry or LiDAR.
- Preferred: experience with pad certifications on residential grading projects.
- Preferred: bachelor's degree in surveying, geomatics, civil engineering, or a related field.
- Preferred: PLS licensure in additional states.
- Travel: regular travel across Southern California for site visits, client meetings, and county and title company coordination; occasional travel to other markets as the business expands.
Compensation: The expected base salary range for this role is $130k-$160k annually. Compensation may vary based on experience and qualifications. Individual salaries within each range are determined through a wide variety of factors, including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, and skills. In addition to base salary, individuals may be eligible for a discretionary performance bonus.
Some of our perks/benefits
- Flexible PTO
- Medical insurance
- Vision and Dental Insurance fully paid by the Company
- 401K
This position will remain open until the position is filled.
At TraceAir, we’re an equal-opportunity employer that values diversity and positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy or maternity or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
See All 30 Land Surveyor Jobs in California
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Find Land Surveyor JobsLand Surveyor Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Land Surveyor Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Energy
- Construction & Real Estate
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in land surveyor jobs across California.
- Active Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists
- Experience with CAD software such as AutoCAD Civil 3D and data collection using GPS and total station equipment
- Ability to read and interpret legal descriptions, plats, deeds, and construction drawings
- Knowledge of California boundary law, title standards, and ALTA survey requirements
- Experience with drone or LiDAR technology for aerial and terrestrial data capture
- Strong field communication skills and ability to coordinate with project engineers and clients
Land Surveyor Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a land surveyor in California?
To become a licensed land surveyor in California you must earn a degree in surveying, geomatics, or a closely related field and then pass both the Fundamentals of Surveying exam and the Professional Land Surveyor exam administered through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. Candidates also complete supervised field experience before applying for the PLS license, which is required to legally sign and seal survey documents in California.
How much do land surveyors make in California?
Land surveyors in California earn a median of about $105,330 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $59,310 for the lowest 10% to over $160,430 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire land surveyors in California?
Employers hiring land surveyors in California right now include Blue View Builder, NV5, and Willdan, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's sustained infrastructure investment and active residential development market keep large engineering and surveying firms in a near-continuous hiring cycle across the state.
Which California cities have the most land surveyor jobs?
Orange, Ventura, and Elk Grove have the most land surveyor openings in California. Sacramento draws significant public-sector and infrastructure work tied to state government projects, while Los Angeles and San Diego generate consistent private-sector demand through large-scale construction, transportation, and coastal development projects anchored by major engineering firms operating regional offices in both metros.
Are there remote land surveyor jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Land surveying is inherently a field-based profession, and most roles require physical presence on site for data collection, boundary verification, and construction staking. About 50% of land surveyor openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions tend to involve office-side work such as CAD drafting, deed research, or project coordination rather than active fieldwork.
How can I get hired as a land surveyor in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a survey technician or field crew member role, which large California engineering firms like AECOM, WSP, and regional public works departments regularly post without requiring a PLS license. Community colleges throughout California offer surveying certificates that strengthen an application, and pursuing your Surveyor-in-Training registration with the California Board signals to employers that you are progressing toward licensure. Lateral entry from construction layout or civil engineering technician roles is also common at mid-size firms across the state.
Where can I find and apply to land surveyor jobs in California?
You can find and apply to land surveyor jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and location, and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 30 Land Surveyor Jobs in California
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