NAICS 541370 Quarterly Industry Report
Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 541370Sector: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value report profiles NAICS 541370 (Surveying and Mapping Services) using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], Census Bureau, and SBA size standards. The classification distinguishes surface feature surveying and mapping from geophysical surveying (NAICS 541360) which focuses on subsurface resource exploration. Fair Market Value assessments reference employment statistics, business structure information, and industry growth metrics.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services industry.
NAICS Sector
54
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Industry Definition & Overview
Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (NAICS 541370) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in surveying land areas, gathering and interpreting geographic and geospatial data, and creating maps and mapping products Census Bureau NAICS 541370[5]. This industry includes airborne geospatial photo and image acquisition from aircraft equipped with cameras, radar, infrared detectors, and GPS receivers. Spaceborne geospatial image acquisition services from satellite platforms are also included. Establishments provide photomosaics, image processing, orthorectified photo production, and digital elevation models supporting construction, real estate, government, and infrastructure development.
The industry operates as a highly fragmented market with no single company holding more than 5% market share. Total U.S. employment reached 55,206 in 2023, with Texas (9,139 employees), Florida (6,684), and California (4,085) showing highest concentrations BLS Surveying Employment[6]. Alaska had the highest geographic concentration at 2.38 times the national average. Market size was $11.3 billion in 2024, growing at a 5.5% compound annual growth rate between 2019 and 2024. Construction and real estate drive primary demand.
Modern technologies including drones, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), and global positioning systems are creating new service opportunities and expanding capabilities. Employment of surveying and mapping technicians is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, driven by continued demand in construction and infrastructure development.
What's Included in This Industry
- Land surveying and boundary establishment services
- Aerial geospatial photography and image acquisition
- Satellite-based geospatial image collection and interpretation
- Photomosaic creation and digital image processing
- Orthorectified photo and image production services
- Digital elevation model generation and analysis
- Geographic information system (GIS) mapping and analysis
- GPS and positioning technology services
- Remote sensing and geospatial data interpretation
- Survey documentation and mapping product development
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 54 |
| Subsector | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541 |
| Industry Group | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 5413 |
| NAICS Industry | Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services | 54137 |
| National Industry | Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services | 541370 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 541360 | Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services | Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services differs by focusing on subsurface resource exploration using seismic, magnetic, and gravity techniques, while 541370 surveys visible surface features, topography, and property boundaries for construction and real estate purposes. |
| 541330 | Engineering Services | Engineering Services provides design and consulting using physical laws and engineering principles, often working with surveying data to develop infrastructure projects, feasibility studies, and site engineering assessments. |
| 541310 | Architectural Services | Architectural Services focuses on planning and designing buildings and structures, requiring accurate surveying and mapping data for site analysis, grading plans, and proper project location on surveyed properties. |
| 541320 | Landscape Architectural Services | Site design services involve planning the development of land areas for parks, recreational facilities, and land subdivisions, relying heavily on surveying data to understand land characteristics and design appropriate site solutions. |
| 541350 | Building Inspection Services | Building Inspection Services evaluates building structures and component systems for real estate transactions, often referencing surveying and mapping data to document property boundaries and site conditions. |
| 541380 | Testing Laboratories and Services | Testing Laboratories and Services performs geotechnical testing and calibration that complements surveying work by providing detailed analysis of soil conditions, materials, and site characteristics identified during field surveys. |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 9.6% | 705 |
| 2 | Florida | 9.4% | 691 |
| 3 | California | 6.6% | 489 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 5.5% | 405 |
| 5 | New York | 4.9% | 364 |
| 6 | Georgia | 3.8% | 279 |
| 7 | Colorado | 3.5% | 255 |
| 8 | Virginia | 3.2% | 233 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 2.7% | 200 |
| 10 | Ohio | 2.5% | 183 |
% Of Establishments
0%
10%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
368
Total SBA Loans
$133.8M
Total Loan Volume
$363K
Average Loan Size
11 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.67%
Average Interest Rate
3,056
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA size standard for NAICS 541370 (Surveying and Mapping except Geophysical Services) is $19.0 million in average annual receipts for the preceding five fiscal years SBA Size Standards[7]. This threshold determines eligibility for federal contracting preferences and SBA financial assistance programs. Businesses at or below this revenue level qualify for preferential treatment in federal procurement. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[8] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[9] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brookline Bank, a Division of Beacon Bank and Trust | 8 | $34.9M | $4.4M |
| 2 | First Internet Bank of Indiana | 8 | $12.9M | $1.6M |
| 3 | Community Bank & Trust-West Georgia | 8 | $12.4M | $1.6M |
| 4 | Live Oak Banking Company | 16 | $11.3M | $707K |
| 5 | Northeast Bank | 32 | $6.9M | $217K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the difference between NAICS 541370 and NAICS 541360?
NAICS 541370 covers surveying and mapping that measures surface features, land boundaries, topography, and geographic information. NAICS 541360 focuses on gathering geophysical data to locate subsurface resources using seismic, magnetic, and gravity techniques. The key distinction is surface feature surveying versus subsurface investigation. Census Bureau NAICS 541370[5]
What technologies are transforming the surveying industry?
Drones and unmanned aerial vehicles for aerial data collection, LiDAR for precise topographic measurement, GPS for accurate location determination, and satellite-based remote sensing for large-area coverage are all transforming capabilities. These enable more efficient data collection and expanded service opportunities. BLS Employment Data[6]
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 541370?
The SBA size standard is $19.0 million in average annual receipts for the preceding five fiscal years. This threshold applies to federal contracting, SBA loan eligibility, and other small business assistance programs. SBA Size Standards[7]
Which states have the highest surveying employment?
Texas leads with 9,139 employees, followed by Florida with 6,684 and California with 4,085. Alaska has the highest geographic concentration at 2.38 times the national average. Other high-concentration states include Florida (1.92x), Texas (1.85x), and Louisiana (1.81x). BLS Geographic Data[6]
What industries drive demand for surveying services?
Construction and real estate are primary demand drivers. This includes residential and commercial building construction, infrastructure development, highway and bridge construction, land development, and property boundary surveys for real estate transactions. Demand fluctuates with economic cycles and construction activity levels.
How large is the surveying and mapping services market?
The U.S. market was valued at $11.3 billion in 2024 with a compound annual growth rate of 5.5% from 2019 to 2024. The market remains highly fragmented with about 17,405 establishments, and no single company controls more than 5% market share.
What services are included in NAICS 541370?
Services include land boundary surveys, airborne geospatial photography from aircraft equipped with cameras and sensors, satellite-based image acquisition, photomosaic creation, digital image processing, orthorectified photo production, digital elevation model generation, GIS analysis, and GPS positioning services. Census Bureau NAICS 541370[5]
What is the employment outlook for surveying positions?
Employment of surveying and mapping technicians is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. Growth is driven by continued demand in construction, infrastructure development, and geospatial analysis applications. BLS Occupational Outlook[10]
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]Census Bureau NAICS 541370 census.gov
- [6]BLS Surveying Employment bls.gov
- [7]SBA Size Standards sba.gov
- [8]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [9]504 loans sba.gov
- [10]BLS Occupational Outlook bls.gov
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