Surveyor Salary in Denver, CO
Surveyors in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $80,970 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,938 take-home, or $5,245 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median surveyor salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,983
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,020
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,174
- Colorado income tax$2,854
- Take-home pay$62,938
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Surveyor pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,230 | $28.96 | $48,633 | $4,053 |
| 25th percentile | $71,630 | $34.44 | $56,778 | $4,732 |
| Median (50th) | $80,970 | $38.93 | $62,938 | $5,245 |
| 75th percentile | $104,390 | $50.19 | $78,384 | $6,532 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $117,440 | $56.46 | $86,990 | $7,249 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $80,970 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median surveyor's $62,938 take-home pay has the buying power of $59,498 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 1.7× the national concentration of surveyor jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for surveyors, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $80,970 | $62,938 | $59,498 |
*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 Denver, CO?
The median surveyor salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $80,970 a year, or about $38.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $71,630 and $104,390.
What is a surveyor’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $80,970 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $62,938 a year ($5,245 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,854 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a surveyor?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $75,440. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $59,498 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #9 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a surveyor afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median surveyor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Petroleum Engineer — $174,580
- Aerospace Engineer — $156,190
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $144,660
- Engineers, All Other — $131,740
- Mechanical Engineer — $128,180
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $127,260
- Materials Engineer — $125,750
- Electrical Engineer — $119,020
- Industrial Engineer — $108,680
- Environmental Engineer — $107,880
- Civil Engineer — $104,710
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $104,090