Former land surveyor here. I worked for about 10 years in the industry before I became a software developer. It's a fascinating career choice for the technicall

Former land surveyor here. I worked for about 10 years in the industry before I became a software developer. It's a fascinating career choice for the technically-minded who don't want to be chained to a desk, though there is a minor percentage of desk work involved for field staff. It's a career that has its challenges, particularly economically. Back when I was doing it, two to three man crews (but usually two-man) were typical. Now, with the advent of robotic total stations, low-cost GPS receivers, and laser imaging, one-man crews are more and more common. Also, similar to software engineering, there's a tendency for the viable career path to lead to management and office work if you become a licensed PLS. So in the same way it is difficult for a programmer/developer to keep working on producing code in his or her late career, it's similarly difficult for staff surveyors who got into the industry because they love field work to stay there. As long as you understand these tradeoffs, surveying can be very rewarding work.