Surveyor or Cival Cad tech 2

[JacobStaff]

I have a decision to make. I have been working for the same surveying company for 9 years and have recently become a Lisenced Surveyor. I have changed from hourly with overtime to salary and increase reposibilities to checking but not signing surveys. I just talked with an Engineering client and he has offered me a job as a Civil CAD tech/project manager for basically the same money (more salary/less benefits). I have worked with the engineering company for the 9 years and know everyone there. My thinking is that I will have more room for advancement with the engineering firm. I will not be able to become a PE but I can always go back to surveying now that I have my LS ticket.

New challenges, and possible room for advancement vs. loyalty, sticking to what I know and not having to move.

Anyone have any helpful advise? Is it really greener on the otherside?

 

[pmkPE]

What do you want to be doing 5, 10, 20 years from now? What led you into the surveying profession? I too started out in surveying and am now a civil/structural engineer registered in three states. I loved working out doors after high school and decided to attend an associate degree program for surveying/highway engineering technology. After attending college I found that I really liked college (didn't care for high school) and decided to go on for a BS in structural engineering. I still do surveying, and do enjoy getting "out". However, I would not be able to provide for my family as a surveyor unless I owned the company and had others working for me. Which would mean that I would not be out in the field. Again, where do you want to be 20 years from now - what does your heart (gut) say?

 

[Beggar]

Personally, I'd choose surveyor over CAD Tech.

It seems unlikely that the surveyor position would be eliminated and transferred to a job shop in India or China. CAD tech, though, that's easy, easy, easy to ship out.

 

[sited]

Hard choice, but remember as a lisenced surveyer you are in demand and as a Cad tech you have no real approving athority unless you obtain a degree pr you P.E.

Good luck.