CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for surveying and mapping services firms in Houston, TX
Surveying and mapping services firms in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area: 146 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 16-person team.
- Establishments
- 146CBP 2023
- Employees
- 2,264mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 1.9U.S. 2.1
- Rank
- 4th of 442areas by count
How many surveying and mapping services firms are in Houston, TX?
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 146 establishments classified as Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (NAICS 541370) in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area. Together they reported 2,264 mid-March employees and $169.3 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 4th of the 442 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 7.8 million residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 1.9 surveying and mapping services firms per 100,000 people, 12.6% below the national rate of 2.1. Establishments average 15.5 employees, 94.6% above the U.S. average of 8.0. Payroll per employee comes to $74,760, in line with the national $74,108.
| Measure | Houston, TX | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 146 | 703 | 7,288 |
| Mid-March employees | 2,264 | 8,376 | 58,087 |
| Annual payroll | $169,257,000 | $605,086,000 | $4,304,723,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 15.5 | 11.9 | 8.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $74,760 | $72,240 | $74,108 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.1 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at surveying and mapping services firms in Houston, TX
Of the surveying and mapping services firms in Houston, TX that had employees in March 2023, 41.3% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 58.3%). 60.8% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 59 | 41.3% | 58.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 28 | 19.6% | 21.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 33 | 23.1% | 12.3% |
| 20–49 employees | 17 | 11.9% | 5.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 6 | 4.2% | 2.0% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a surveying firm in Houston, TX has to catch
Surveyors spend their days in the field, and calls about boundary surveys, closings and construction staking come from homeowners, title companies and builders. A line that rings field crews' phones keeps work from waiting.
Calls a surveying firm in Houston, TX might handle in a typical week include:
- The firm calls a client with a quote.
- A title company calls for a survey before closing.
- A neighbor calls about survey markers.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are usually quote requests.
Business-hours routing in Callata sends calls to voicemail, a teammate's cell or an AI agent once the day ends, and voicemails arrive transcribed with an urgency flag.
Phone system pricing for a 16-person surveying firm
The average surveying firm in Houston, TX has 15.5 employees, so a 16-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 16 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $480.00 a month and 16 on Ooma Office Pro cost $399.20. On Callata the same 16 people cost $319.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,932. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $319.00 | $3,828.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $304.00 | $3,648.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $368.00 | $4,416.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $399.20 | $4,790.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $432.00 | $5,184.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $480.00 | $5,760.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Getting a local number in Houston, TX
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 713 has the most, with 747 of 2,385 exchanges (31%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your clients recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 713 | 747 | Central | 1947 | 281, 346, 621, 832 |
| 832 | 547 | Central | 1999 | 281, 346, 713 |
| 281 | 393 | Central | 1996 | 346, 621, 713, 832 |
| 346 | 382 | Central | 2014 | 281, 621, 713, 832 |
| 936 | 144 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 979 | 100 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 409 | 71 | Central | 1982 | none |
| 806 | 1 | Central | 1957 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
What surveying and mapping services firms in Houston, TX get with Callata
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Houston, TX, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many surveying and mapping services firms are there in Houston, TX?
Census County Business Patterns counted 146 surveying and mapping services firms in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area in 2023. They employed 2,264 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 16-person surveying firm?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 16 users cost $480.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $399.20 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $319.00.
What area code should a surveying firm in Houston, TX use?
Area code 713 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 832 and 281. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a surveying firm?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.