Workers' comp class code · Professional
Class code 8601-2 — Land Surveying
Field measurement and mapping of land boundaries and topography.
This classification covers land surveying crews who measure and map property boundaries, topography, and construction layouts. Unlike office-based design professionals, surveyors spend the bulk of their working day outdoors, walking uneven terrain, setting up equipment, and taking measurements in the field rather than at a desk.
A typical day involves traveling to a job site, hauling and setting up survey instruments, walking property lines through brush, slopes, or active construction areas, and recording data that's later processed back at the office. Crew members work in teams, often near roadways, excavation, or heavy equipment, which introduces a different and more elevated exposure profile than the design and consulting work performed by architects and engineers.
Real risks include falls on uneven or wooded terrain, exposure to weather, strain from carrying equipment, and proximity to vehicle or construction traffic. Because of this regular fieldwork, land surveying is rated meaningfully higher than office-based design consulting, even though both professions often work for the same clients and on the same overall projects.
What code 8601-2 typically includes
- Licensed land surveyors
- Survey crew chiefs and instrument operators
- Field technicians collecting topographic and boundary data
- Support staff processing survey data in the office
- Equipment transport and setup personnel
Codes this one gets confused with
8601 — Architect/Engineer — Consulting
Architecture and engineering design work is office-based with only occasional site visits, while surveying is regular, hands-on fieldwork.
See code 86018810 — Clerical Office Employees
Office staff who process survey data but never go into the field should be separated out under a clerical classification.
See code 8810What this code means for your premium
Land surveying is rated noticeably higher than office-based design work, reflecting the outdoor, hands-on nature of fieldwork.
Estimate your premiumClassification is not final until a carrier assigns it. Code numbers, wording and exceptions vary by state and rating bureau — several states run their own bureaus. This page is general reference written in our own words; your carrier's underwriter assigns the code based on your actual operations and payroll records.
Questions about code 8601-2
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