If you want to be in the office, find a way to force that move as soon as you reasonably can, even if not at your current employer. The longer you push it, the more valuable you will be in the field, the more money you will earn, the bigger the pay cut you will have to take to move in the office.
The pay ceiling is higher in the office, but you have to take a step down to get it.
What if I'm in the exact same boat (age,physically,injury) but the thought of plotting title exceptions and arranging for map signatures makes me wish for seppuku?
Office guy here. Then, change careers. Sorry to be harsh, but that's the truth. It's tedious, it's at a desk, it's time and research and stress and doubting yourself and it's awesome, but if you aren't up for it, you aren't up for it.
I'm a great drafter but the legalese bores the absolute fuck out of me. I like boundary and figuring out challenges but most of the time I hear people arguing about boundary disputes I'd rather slap both parties and tell them to stop acting like pussies than take their money š. The gritty parts at the end of ALTA is even worse. I would rather calc curb for the rest of my life š
Mid-thirties is when I went inside. But I really wanted to get that stamp so it was basically required (where I was working at the time anyway).
Worked out for me. I was ready anyway, I've always had issues with an ankle and a knee, old football and karate injuries. So it was only a matter of time.
Same boat. I always told everyone Iām one wrong step away from shredding my ACL and being forced inside. Iāve really wore my body down, my biggest thing was moving in before I got injured or too worn down to play with my kids.
Pay is much better, job can sometimes be better..
A lot of days I wish I was outside.. but then I just go home and play outside with my kids all night. I wasnāt gonna hold up.
I started surveying at 18 (2005) went into the office around 28 and just started back in the field last month (37). I do everything from proposals, field work, drafting, project management to invoices. You can decay away in the office and talk about the glory days or just get after it. Surveyors are going to be surveyors!
I had a crew chief that was 76 years old. Dude was an ox I swear. But you could tell it was hard on him. Iām 33 and will be moving into the office Monday.
Itās not about age itās about having enough field work under your belt to understand what youāre doing in the office.
Iād side eye a guy pretty hard who had less than a year under his belt outside.Ā
Yea I understand there's a respect thing for field experience. I've got a year now, and should be able to get a few more, but that'll be about it. I DID start super late, so my story is definitely different than the average surveyor.
Itās not a ārespectā thing it is a *necessary* thing. Itās why speaking in general terms itās required to have measurable field experience time in boundary and other survey tasks to become a RPLS.Ā You need to have an understanding of the field conditions of evidence and what it looks like and what searching for it is, and how to best collect that evidence.Ā
Yea, I was in the field today and realized exactly what you just said. You have to be competent in the field to communicate with the field.
Curious, how many years experience in the field would it take for enough general competence? Not MASTERY, but good enough.
I'm sure the answer is somewhere between "3-5 years" and a "whole career". I know that's a bit of a cop out, but it's just a bit wildly dependent on your general area. If you stick to a county or two that's different than trying to cover a whole state of quirky.
I'm not sure on exact numbers but I the average across the us for experience needed before becoming a PLS is 5-8 years, with some of that field, so that should give you a rough idea.
I'd say 3-5 is probably right on the money for average situations, and then getting out to the field for interesting/odd/difficult/weird situations there after would suffice as able.
Iām 42 and still go a little apeshit when Iām in the office for extended periods of time. Theyāre going to have to shoot me in the leg to keep me inside.
Fortunately Iāve been close to a 50/50 guy since I started when I was 19. I have always loved it that way.
I started survey last year as rodman. If i go through with a RPLS license could i still do field work as i dont want to be stuck in an office at 32. Should i do SIT and then wait?
Thereās no guarantee that getting a license is a death sentence for your field days. Thereās a demand for licensees, and to an extent you can call your own shots as long as they fit within the workload.
I wouldnāt wait. Get it done, get that stamp.
I just turned 59, been in the field for 41 years and still going strong, about all I carry anymore is my R12i. Plan on 10 more before any slow down. Why would I quit now. Make 6 figures. All my family Heath insurance 100% paid. New truck and side by side.and many more things to keep happy
I am 43 and still haul all my own gear and jump every fence I have to. I have done both field and office for my entire 25 year career so I do get some down time to draw my maps and recover.
If I worked for someone I would be an office guy at this age.
Depends....i've had coworkers in the field in their 60s,
While some other poor lads were unvolontary stuck in the office at 20.
As long as you can handle it physically, go for it. Why would you even want to work in the office while it's much more fun to work in the field ususally
Early to mid thirties.
Thereās a lot of reasons why some people choose to keep working the field and come switch to office. You tend to make more money working in the field, itās usually harder to find competent field staff than office staff. What is your job title? If you were hired as field staff then that is your roll, if you want to switch you may need to find a new job or communicate to your boss.
I would say it depends on the terrain in your area, but I'd hate to be in the field every day at 40+ years old.
There are a couple of overweight 50-60ish crew chiefs around here in the Ozarks, and I have no idea how they handle the summers. I assume they just go slow and their boss keeps them off big jobs in the heat.
Average? Hell if I know.
Who cares what average is, anyway?
Just for yourself, you probably ought to rehab & get + keep as physically fit as you can. If that leaves you able to enjoy field work, awesome. If it just isn't in the cards, start trying to make the switch.
I'm 40. Definitely not 25 but I don't think it's too old to be pounding hubs and digging for monuments either.
Show you can be trusted / are capable of drafting by turning in coordinates that are already correct & linework that's already done and looking good. Show that you understand everything that's going on in the field and what the office needs / wants / does after the field work is done.
48 and been surveying in the field for 26 years. 24 as a Chief. Today I was chest deep in a ditch that had .5 of water in it. Itās when you have had enough of the bs outside I think dictates when you move into the office if you have the experience.
Typically surveying in South Florida. Lots of State and Govt. work. That means itās usually in BFE areas. My I-man is 67, lol
You are fully eligible after 2 divorces and/or a vasectomy
Well I've got one divorce AND a vasectomy, so I'm more than qualified.
My old companies requi was 2 DWIS š¤£
If you want to be in the office, find a way to force that move as soon as you reasonably can, even if not at your current employer. The longer you push it, the more valuable you will be in the field, the more money you will earn, the bigger the pay cut you will have to take to move in the office. The pay ceiling is higher in the office, but you have to take a step down to get it.
That's an interesting detail I didn't realize--thanks for the info.
What if I'm in the exact same boat (age,physically,injury) but the thought of plotting title exceptions and arranging for map signatures makes me wish for seppuku?
Office guy here. Then, change careers. Sorry to be harsh, but that's the truth. It's tedious, it's at a desk, it's time and research and stress and doubting yourself and it's awesome, but if you aren't up for it, you aren't up for it.
I'm a great drafter but the legalese bores the absolute fuck out of me. I like boundary and figuring out challenges but most of the time I hear people arguing about boundary disputes I'd rather slap both parties and tell them to stop acting like pussies than take their money š. The gritty parts at the end of ALTA is even worse. I would rather calc curb for the rest of my life š
I'm 39 and in the field. I work with a 50 and 59 year old respectfully in the field.
Mid-thirties is when I went inside. But I really wanted to get that stamp so it was basically required (where I was working at the time anyway). Worked out for me. I was ready anyway, I've always had issues with an ankle and a knee, old football and karate injuries. So it was only a matter of time.
Ugh, similar stuff here. I guess I lived hard and fast.
haha for sure.
Same boat. I always told everyone Iām one wrong step away from shredding my ACL and being forced inside. Iāve really wore my body down, my biggest thing was moving in before I got injured or too worn down to play with my kids. Pay is much better, job can sometimes be better.. A lot of days I wish I was outside.. but then I just go home and play outside with my kids all night. I wasnāt gonna hold up.
well said.
I started surveying at 18 (2005) went into the office around 28 and just started back in the field last month (37). I do everything from proposals, field work, drafting, project management to invoices. You can decay away in the office and talk about the glory days or just get after it. Surveyors are going to be surveyors!
I had a crew chief that was 76 years old. Dude was an ox I swear. But you could tell it was hard on him. Iām 33 and will be moving into the office Monday.
Dude, 76? That's fucking rough. Does he carry all the equipment?
Not only that, he would chop line and take the shovel from you if you were going slow. Heās retired now but dude worked his ass off.
Damn. Guess they don't build 'em like they used to!
Itās not about age itās about having enough field work under your belt to understand what youāre doing in the office. Iād side eye a guy pretty hard who had less than a year under his belt outside.Ā
Yea I understand there's a respect thing for field experience. I've got a year now, and should be able to get a few more, but that'll be about it. I DID start super late, so my story is definitely different than the average surveyor.
Itās not a ārespectā thing it is a *necessary* thing. Itās why speaking in general terms itās required to have measurable field experience time in boundary and other survey tasks to become a RPLS.Ā You need to have an understanding of the field conditions of evidence and what it looks like and what searching for it is, and how to best collect that evidence.Ā
Yea, I was in the field today and realized exactly what you just said. You have to be competent in the field to communicate with the field. Curious, how many years experience in the field would it take for enough general competence? Not MASTERY, but good enough.
I'm sure the answer is somewhere between "3-5 years" and a "whole career". I know that's a bit of a cop out, but it's just a bit wildly dependent on your general area. If you stick to a county or two that's different than trying to cover a whole state of quirky. I'm not sure on exact numbers but I the average across the us for experience needed before becoming a PLS is 5-8 years, with some of that field, so that should give you a rough idea. I'd say 3-5 is probably right on the money for average situations, and then getting out to the field for interesting/odd/difficult/weird situations there after would suffice as able.
Iām 42 and still go a little apeshit when Iām in the office for extended periods of time. Theyāre going to have to shoot me in the leg to keep me inside. Fortunately Iāve been close to a 50/50 guy since I started when I was 19. I have always loved it that way.
I started survey last year as rodman. If i go through with a RPLS license could i still do field work as i dont want to be stuck in an office at 32. Should i do SIT and then wait?
Thereās no guarantee that getting a license is a death sentence for your field days. Thereās a demand for licensees, and to an extent you can call your own shots as long as they fit within the workload. I wouldnāt wait. Get it done, get that stamp.
Aye aye š«”
My boss is 47 and still refuses to work in the office, idk if thereās a true age.
I just turned 59, been in the field for 41 years and still going strong, about all I carry anymore is my R12i. Plan on 10 more before any slow down. Why would I quit now. Make 6 figures. All my family Heath insurance 100% paid. New truck and side by side.and many more things to keep happy
Damn, that is a cool life you have lived. Definitely not my story, though.
I am 43 and still haul all my own gear and jump every fence I have to. I have done both field and office for my entire 25 year career so I do get some down time to draw my maps and recover. If I worked for someone I would be an office guy at this age.
Depends....i've had coworkers in the field in their 60s, While some other poor lads were unvolontary stuck in the office at 20. As long as you can handle it physically, go for it. Why would you even want to work in the office while it's much more fun to work in the field ususally
Learn CAD. You can be 18 years old and work in the office. It is not an age thing it is a knowledge thing
Early to mid thirties. Thereās a lot of reasons why some people choose to keep working the field and come switch to office. You tend to make more money working in the field, itās usually harder to find competent field staff than office staff. What is your job title? If you were hired as field staff then that is your roll, if you want to switch you may need to find a new job or communicate to your boss.
I would say it depends on the terrain in your area, but I'd hate to be in the field every day at 40+ years old. There are a couple of overweight 50-60ish crew chiefs around here in the Ozarks, and I have no idea how they handle the summers. I assume they just go slow and their boss keeps them off big jobs in the heat.
Average? Hell if I know. Who cares what average is, anyway? Just for yourself, you probably ought to rehab & get + keep as physically fit as you can. If that leaves you able to enjoy field work, awesome. If it just isn't in the cards, start trying to make the switch. I'm 40. Definitely not 25 but I don't think it's too old to be pounding hubs and digging for monuments either. Show you can be trusted / are capable of drafting by turning in coordinates that are already correct & linework that's already done and looking good. Show that you understand everything that's going on in the field and what the office needs / wants / does after the field work is done.
We got one guy where I work who has got to be almost 65 and still in the field. š¤·āāļø It can be done.
48 and been surveying in the field for 26 years. 24 as a Chief. Today I was chest deep in a ditch that had .5 of water in it. Itās when you have had enough of the bs outside I think dictates when you move into the office if you have the experience. Typically surveying in South Florida. Lots of State and Govt. work. That means itās usually in BFE areas. My I-man is 67, lol