Topographer salary

Working as a Topographer: An Overview

Being a topographer involves working with collecting, analyzing, and presenting geographic data. As a topographer, also known as a GIS and mapping engineer, your main responsibility is to create and update maps and geographic information systems (GIS). This work is crucial for urban planning, environmental analysis, and many other areas where spatial information is important.

What Does a Topographer Earn?

The salary for a topographer varies depending on various factors such as experience, education, and type of employment. Currently, the average salary for the profession is 40 400 SEK per month. According to the latest statistics, men earn an average of 41 500 SEK, while women earn 38 300 SEK, meaning that women's salaries correspond to 92% of men's. For hourly topographers, the average hourly wage is 243 SEK, based on 166 working hours per month.

Salary Range in the Field

In the field of topography, salaries can vary significantly. The highest salary, at 48600 SEK, belongs to a woman working as a private sector employee with a doctoral degree. On the other hand, the highest salary for a man in the same profession is 42900 SEK. At the lower end of the salary scale, a woman in the public sector with a post-secondary education shorter than three years earns 32900 SEK. For men in the same category, the lowest salary is 34400 SEK.

Labor Market and Future Outlook

According to the Labor Market Forecast for GIS and mapping engineers, which includes topographers, the job opportunities are considered moderate. However, in the long term, demand is expected to increase, indicating relatively good future prospects. The recruitment situation is characterized by balance, meaning that the labor market is neither overheated nor saturated.

Education and Skills Requirements

To become a topographer, usually a post-secondary education in geography, cartography, or a related field is required. Many topographers have a bachelor's degree in earth sciences, geoinformatics, or similar fields. Further education and specialization in GIS technology can also be advantageous for career development.

Benefits and Working Conditions

Topographers may sometimes enjoy certain benefits depending on the employer and type of employment. These benefits may include paid training to stay updated with the latest GIS technologies or the opportunity to work remotely a few days a week. These benefits can be of significant value to the employee and contribute to a better work-life balance.

Challenges and Key Aspects

Working as a topographer can be both rewarding and challenging. One of the biggest challenges is to continuously stay updated with the rapid technological advancements in GIS and cartography. It is also important to have a good ability to analyze and interpret data to create useful and accurate maps.

• Ability to work with advanced software for GIS and cartography
• Understanding of geographic information systems and their applications
• Ability to collaborate with other professional groups, such as urban planners and environmental analysts

Competition and Career Opportunities

The competition in the field of topography is generally balanced, meaning that it is not too difficult to find employment, but it requires the right skills and education. With the expected increase in demand, more opportunities are likely to open up for topographers, especially those with specialized skills in GIS technology.

In summary, the profession of a topographer offers both stability and potential for future growth. By combining technical skills with analytical abilities, topographers can contribute to many important areas in society.