Hydrographic Surveyor

Hydrographic surveyors play a crucial role in mapping and understanding our oceans, rivers, and lakes, providing essential data that supports maritime navigation, environmental protection, and infrastructure development. Their work not only enhances safety at sea but also contributes significantly to sustainable management of water resources, making it vital both in the UK and globally.

Hydrographic Surveyor

15

Geography and Earth Sciences

AI IMPACT
AI CAN DO15%moving to60%
THE DOOR, NOWB
THE DOOR, 20 YRSC
STARTING PAY£30,000 - £36,000
PHYSICAL MOATThe work is hands-on, in the real world. Software alone can't do it.
This job holds up well against AI
AI cannot yet do much of what this job actually involves, and the work is hands-on, in the real world. Software alone can't do it. That is about as safe as careers get right now, though it is still worth learning to use the tools well.

Career progression path

1FIRST STEPJunior Hydrographic SurveyorAs a Junior Hydrographic Surveyor, you will assist in data collection and analysis, gaining hands-on experience in the field and office.£30,000 - £36,000
2GAINING EXPERIENCEMid-Level Hydrographic SurveyorIn this role, you will take on more complex projects, lead field surveys, and mentor junior staff, while continuing to develop your technical skills.£45,000 - £55,000
3PEAK CAREERSenior Hydrographic SurveyorAs a Senior Hydrographic Surveyor, you will oversee major surveying projects, manage teams, and liaise with high-level stakeholders, driving strategic decisions.£80,000+
There is more than one way in

You do not have to go the university route to get here. There is also a vocational route that skips a degree entirely.

Careermash

Careermash: navigate your career path with real data. Explore career profiles, salary benchmarks, AI impact forecasts, and the qualifications you need to get there.


AI EXPOSURE = the share of a job's day-to-day tasks AI can already do today, from the same exposure engine used across this site (Anthropic labour market research, 2026, observed real-world AI usage by occupation). Higher means more exposed. It is a measurement of now, not a prediction. THE DOOR = how hard the job is to get into, grade A (easy) to E (extremely hard), from each career's published forecast (OpenAI, "The AI Jobs Transition Framework", Richmond 2026, CC BY 4.0). A card marked MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIED has a real exposure score but no entry yet in our moat register, so we make no claim about what structurally protects it. Scorecard grades and verdicts are Careermash editorial judgment: we show forecasts as forecasts and own our conclusions. Salary and pathway figures are each career's own published profile. Careermash is a service provided by What School Ltd.

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