Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services Revenue Benchmarks
The average surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services business in the United States generates $1.0M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 7,000 surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services businesses in the U.S., employing 52,793 workers with an average profit margin of 22.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $73K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Surveying and Mapping Business Actually Do?
Licensed land surveyors establishing property boundaries, creating maps, and preparing legal descriptions.
Who buys: Home buyers, real estate deals, contractors, government agencies.
Average Revenue
$1.0M
per year
Profit Margin
22.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$136K
per year
Total Businesses
7,000
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$226K
small business avg
Labor Cost
50.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$73K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
2.1
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services Charge?
Land surveyors establish property boundaries and elevations, create maps and legal descriptions.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Residential boundary survey | $400–1,000 |
ALTA/NSPS survey (commercial) | $2,500–15,000 |
Topographic survey | $1,000–8,000 |
Elevation certificate (FEMA) | $400–1,500 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete surveying and mapping business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Client-related expenses | $4 | $43K | Software licenses, subscriptions, printing, filing fees, travel billed to clients. |
Wages & benefits | $50 | $514K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $58K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $43K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $14 | $144K | Professional liability insurance, continuing education, tech, admin support. |
Net profit | $22 | $226K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
9.05%
openings/year
Closure Rate
8.48%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+4.14%
annual
Businesses Closed
6,584
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Surveying and Mapping Business?
Startup Cost
$10K – $75K
Break-Even
2 months
5-Year Survival Rate
60.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services business do?
- Licensed land surveyors establishing property boundaries, creating maps, and preparing legal descriptions. Home buyers, real estate deals, contractors, government agencies.
- How much do surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services charge?
- Land surveyors establish property boundaries and elevations, create maps and legal descriptions. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services make per year?
- The average surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services business generates $1.0M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $226K per year at a 22.0% profit margin.
- How many surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services businesses are there in the US?
- There are 7,000 surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 52,793 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services business?
- Startup costs for a surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services business typically range from $10K to $75K, with a 5-year survival rate of 60.0%.
- What is the average salary in the surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services industry?
- The average employee in the surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services industry earns $73K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 4.1% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (9.1% entry vs 8.5% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 64% of surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 6,584 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services industry earns $73,188/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 8,554 establishments employing 55,206 people, the typical business has about 6 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services industry has grown 0% since 2000 (from 82,400 to 82,804 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services revenue with other industries: