Home / Federal careers / GS-1373
Land Surveying
Performs professional land surveying work including boundary surveys, construction surveys, and property mapping.
What GS-1373 pays
2025 base rates, before locality. Most federal employees add a locality adjustment on top.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $34,454 | $35,603 | $36,752 | $37,901 | $39,050 | $40,199 | $41,348 | $42,497 | $43,646 | $44,786 |
| GS-7 | $42,679 | $44,102 | $45,525 | $46,948 | $48,371 | $49,794 | $51,217 | $52,640 | $54,063 | $55,486 |
| GS-9 | $52,205 | $53,945 | $55,685 | $57,425 | $59,165 | $60,905 | $62,645 | $64,385 | $66,125 | $67,865 |
| GS-11 | $63,163 | $65,268 | $67,373 | $69,478 | $71,583 | $73,688 | $75,793 | $77,898 | $80,003 | $82,108 |
| GS-12 | $75,706 | $78,229 | $80,752 | $83,275 | $85,798 | $88,321 | $90,844 | $93,367 | $95,890 | $98,422 |
| GS-13 | $90,025 | $93,026 | $96,027 | $99,028 | $102,029 | $105,030 | $108,031 | $111,032 | $114,033 | $117,034 |
Base pay only. Locality pay adds 15 to 40 percent or more depending on where the job sits. Source: OPM 2025 General Schedule.
Qualification requirements
OPM's standard for GS-1373, as written.
Degree: land surveying; or civil engineering with a surveying option/emphasis. The civil engineering major must have included at least 6 semester hours of surveying, 3 semester hours of land law, and 21 additional semester hours in any combination of the following: surveying, photogrammetry, geodetic surveying, geodesy, route surveying, remote sensing, cartography, survey astronomy, land information systems, computer-aided mapping, aerial photo interpretation, and survey analysis and adjustments.
or
Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in land surveying or civil engineering as described in paragraph A, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
or
The basic requirements for this series may be fully satisfied by a current registration as a land surveyor in a State, territory, or the District of Columbia obtained by written examination. Such registration must have been obtained under conditions outlined in the National Council of Engineering Examiners (NCEE) Unified Model Law for Registration of Surveyors. Applicants wishing to be considered under this provision must show evidence of registration based on successful completion of the written examinations. Registrations granted prior to adoption of a registration law with qualification requirements equivalent to the NCEE Model Law by the State, territory, or District of Columbia are not acceptable under this option. To be considered equivalent to the NCEE Model law, registration laws must include the four options listed within the NCEE Unified Model Law in the section specifying "General Requirements for Registration" as a Professional Land Surveyor.
What this means if you served
- Write the duties, not the billet. OPM credits military experience on the work performed, and does not use rank or pay to judge specialized experience.
- Put the training and certifications you earned in service on the page. They count here.
- Claim your veterans preference on the application. It is not applied for you.
- This series carries a positive education requirement: a degree is required and experience cannot be substituted for it.
How to qualify for GS-1373
1Review Qualification Requirements
Read the OPM qualification standards above to understand the education and experience requirements for your target grade level.
2Find Your Grade Level
Grade follows the scope and complexity of the work you can document against the announcement, not the rank you held. OPM does not use military rank or pay when it evaluates specialized experience. Roughly: GS-5 entry, GS-7/9 junior, GS-11/12 journey, GS-13 and up senior.
3Gather Documentation
Collect your DD-214, SF-50 (if applicable), transcripts, certifications, and any training records that demonstrate your qualifications.
4Build Your Federal Resume
Two pages. USAJOBS has enforced that limit since 27 September 2025 and will not accept a longer resume from a Title 5 agency posting, so the space has to answer every qualification requirement. Include hours worked per week, supervisor contact details, and the accomplishments with numbers on them.
5Apply on USAJOBS
Search for open positions, carefully answer all assessment questions, and submit your application before the closing date.
Military jobs that map to this series
Technical Engineer
Geodetic and construction survey work transfers directly to GS-1373 Land Surveying. Strong match for survey-crew 12Ts.
Skills that carry over: Geodetic survey, GPS and total station operation, Coordinate computation, Topographic mapping.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7, GS-9.
Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) Specialist
GS-1373 Land Surveying uses drone-captured imagery for survey products at agencies like USGS, BLM, and the Army Corps. Operators who fly and process imagery fit well.
Skills that carry over: Aerial survey, Imagery capture, Mapping, Field data collection.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7, GS-9.
Engineering Aid
Engineering Aids perform surveying and mapping, which are key components of land surveying positions.
Skills that carry over: Surveying Methods, Instrumentation, CAD.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7.
Your record can qualify you even when your code is not on this list. The crosswalk is a starting point, not the gate.
Typical duties
- Conduct land surveys
- Establish boundaries
- Perform construction surveys
- Prepare survey plats
- Operate surveying instruments
- Ensure survey accuracy
Key competencies
Surveying Methods
Skill in conducting various types of land surveys.
Instrumentation
Proficiency in total stations, GPS, and levels.
Legal Descriptions
Ability to interpret metes and bounds descriptions.
Boundary Law
Knowledge of boundary law and survey principles.
CAD
Skill in preparing survey drawings and plats.
Computations
Ability to perform survey calculations and adjustments.
Research
Skill in researching deeds and historical survey records.
Report Writing
Ability to prepare survey reports and descriptions.
Words the announcement will use
Use the ones your record actually supports. A rater is matching your experience against the specialized experience statement, and a keyword with nothing behind it does not survive that.
Questions about GS-1373
What is a Land Surveyor in federal service?
A GS-1373 Land Surveyor conducts professional surveying work for federal agencies—establishing property boundaries, performing construction surveys, preparing legal survey plats, and ensuring survey accuracy for agencies like BLM, Army Corps of Engineers, Forest Service, and GSA. These surveyors work on federal land management, military construction, and government property transactions.
How much does a federal Land Surveyor make?
Federal Land Surveyors earn between $34,454 (GS-5 Step 1) and $117,034 (GS-13 Step 10) on the 2025 GS scale. Most positions are at GS-9 through GS-12. A GS-11 Land Surveyor earns $63,163-$82,108. BLM, Army Corps of Engineers, and Forest Service are major employers. Field positions include travel pay and remote location allowances.
What are the requirements for GS-1373 positions?
GS-1373 requires a degree in land surveying or civil engineering with surveying emphasis. Civil engineering majors need at least 6 hours of surveying, 3 hours of land law, plus 21 additional hours in related areas. Alternatively, current state registration as a Professional Land Surveyor obtained through NCEE-equivalent examination fully qualifies applicants.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1373?
If you hold current PLS registration from a state with NCEE-equivalent standards, that alone qualifies you—no degree needed. Otherwise, veterans with surveying degrees and military experience in Army survey units, construction engineering, or route surveying have excellent backgrounds. Military topographic surveying and GPS operations experience strengthens applications.
What is the career progression for Land Surveyor?
Land Surveyors follow the GS-5/7/9/11/12 progression with journey level at GS-11 or GS-12. Senior surveyors and supervisors reach GS-13. Career paths include specializing in cadastral surveying (BLM), construction surveying, or GIS integration. Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) licensure is valuable for advancement.
How do I apply for GS-1373 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for "Land Surveyor" or "Surveyor" under series 1373. BLM, Army Corps of Engineers, Forest Service, and GSA are primary employers. Highlight your PLS license (if held), total station and GPS proficiency, boundary law knowledge, and CAD experience. Include specific project types and software skills in your federal resume.
Ready to apply for GS-1373?
A rater matches your record against the announcement's specialized experience statement, inside two pages. BMR writes that shape from your own experience: competency headers, real scope, hours per week, and the supervisor detail the rater checks.