Ticks transmit more diverse pathogens than any other vector, with their changing distribution and activity period increasing the risk of transmission of pathogens responsible for human and veterinary diseases such as Lyme disease, theileriosis, anaplasmosis, or Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever. The spread of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) is escalating globally, driven by climate change and socio-economic shifts, underlining the urgency to improve surveillance, diagnostics, and control strategies. Surveillance methods whether active or passive play crucial roles in monitoring TBPs. However, to date, there are a lot of shortcomings in the current surveillance mechanisms regarding risks related to ticks. Human-tick encounters offer a novel metric for disease risk assessment, integrating human behavior into traditional surveillance models. Further, the identification of antibodies against arthropod salivary proteins as biomarkers for vector exposure represents a promising avenue for enhancing disease control strategies. Here we explore how the use of such biomarkers, based on recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides as targets, could significantly improve the assessment of tick-borne disease transmission risk and the effectiveness of vector control measures. This review advocates for increased research and cross-border collaboration to leverage molecular tools for tick surveillance, aiming to advance public and One Health responses to the burgeoning threat of TBPs.