Surveyor Salary in Boston, MA
Surveyors in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $94,970 a year — 26% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $71,113 take-home, or $5,926 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$12,063
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,888
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,377
- Massachusetts income tax$4,529
- Take-home pay$71,113
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Surveyor pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,880 | $27.83 | $46,013 | $3,834 |
| 25th percentile | $76,130 | $36.60 | $58,801 | $4,900 |
| Median (50th) | $94,970 | $45.66 | $71,113 | $5,926 |
| 75th percentile | $104,450 | $50.22 | $77,308 | $6,442 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,220 | $63.09 | $94,614 | $7,884 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $94,970 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median surveyor's $71,113 take-home pay has the buying power of $65,683 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 1.2× the national concentration of surveyor jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for surveyors, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #3 of 23 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $125,060 | $87,718 | $75,872 |
| 2 | Riverside, CA | $100,510 | $73,114 | $68,689 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $94,970 | $71,113 | $65,683 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $91,750 | $68,661 | $65,502 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $101,950 | $73,975 | $65,138 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $76,710 | $60,243 | $61,885 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $79,500 | $62,980 | $60,958 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $79,040 | $62,008 | $60,464 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 23 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a surveyor make in Boston, MA?
The median surveyor salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $94,970 a year, or about $45.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $76,130 and $104,450.
What is a surveyor’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $94,970 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $71,113 a year ($5,926 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,529 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a surveyor?
Pay here is 26% above the national median of $75,440. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $65,683 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #3 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a surveyor afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median surveyor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $167,600
- Aerospace Engineer — $149,470
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $142,920
- Engineers, All Other — $133,940
- Electrical Engineer — $128,610
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors — $128,600
- Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer — $128,550
- Mechanical Engineer — $119,300
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $119,120
- Industrial Engineer — $118,970
- Materials Engineer — $111,480
- Environmental Engineer — $109,620