Career Change

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Is this the surveying yall are advising the OP to do?

What Is the Average LAND Surveyor Salary by State
State Annual Salary Monthly Pay
TN $56,668$ 4,722

I wonder if that figure includes the apprentices, which are called "land surveyor in training"?

 

[BAJAvol]

Do they have to work under a professional engineer in order to produce reports that banks and insurance companies will accept? I don't know how all that works and I'm wondering if being under the thumb of another professional might be discouraging entry to that field.

I think you need an engineering degree to be licensed.

 

[Go aeiou]

Do they have to work under a professional engineer in order to produce reports that banks and insurance companies will accept? I don't know how all that works and I'm wondering if being under the thumb of another professional might be discouraging entry to that field.

They each have their own duties.
There are plenty of Civil engineers that do not have a surveyor on their staff. Simply not enough work or they can't find a surveyor who wants to be an empoyee. To answer your question there is plenty of work for each profession, and a surveyor does not have to work for an engineer. Banks and insurance companies can require whatever they want. Some of their requirements are antiquated. Some requirements are required by banking and insurance regulations.
When I developed residential land an engineer or surveyor would design the layout of the roads and other structures based on local, state and federal codes. Some municipalites require a licensed engineer. They typically start with an existing topo map that has 20' elevations so many things are not accurate. A surveyor will ususally stake the center line of the road and survey accurately, and provide a survey with 2' elevations. Adjustments are made based on that survey.
A engineer typically will design the actual construcion of the roads so that they will last. Cut, fill, proper materials and placement of those materials including depth, compactions, etc.
A engineer will also design the sewer. He/she needs a survey to produce an accurate design, although in today's world a computer spits out a desgn that will be tweeked by the engineer or at least signed off by him.
Sorry I incorrrecty wrote this about the diference in surveyors and engineers, not about soil scientist.

 

[Go aeiou]

Do they have to work under a professional engineer in order to produce reports that banks and insurance companies will accept? I don't know how all that works and I'm wondering if being under the thumb of another professional might be discouraging entry to that field.

Oops sorry, you were replying to a question about soil scientist.
I have used several for residential developement, and they were all independent of engineers. I've walked land with them and watched them bore holes to examine soil. It's interesting. All I have known have had a BS, ususally in a science field.
I would think it would be an interesting and rewarding job. But in recent years municipalities have been moving towards more and more sewer systems and less use of septic systems with field lines.

 

[utvolpj]

So I just accepted a new job offer. Not changing careers necessarily (still in IT) but back to a big Corp job with a very nice salary bump. Still can't believe I did it