Surveyor Salary in Detroit, MI
Surveyors in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $72,420 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,950 take-home, or $4,746 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$7,102
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,490
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,050
- Michigan income tax$2,827
- Take-home pay$56,950
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.25% state
Surveyor pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,370 | $25.18 | $42,284 | $3,524 |
| 25th percentile | $61,160 | $29.40 | $48,974 | $4,081 |
| Median (50th) | $72,420 | $34.82 | $56,950 | $4,746 |
| 75th percentile | $76,400 | $36.73 | $59,581 | $4,965 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,820 | $44.63 | $70,435 | $5,870 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $72,420 buys in Detroit, MI
Prices in Detroit, MI are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median surveyor's $56,950 take-home pay has the buying power of $56,781 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Surveyor jobs are less concentrated in Detroit, MI than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for surveyors, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $72,420 | $56,950 | $56,781 |
*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 Detroit, MI?
The median surveyor salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $72,420 a year, or about $34.82 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,160 and $76,400.
What is a surveyor’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $72,420 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $56,950 a year ($4,746 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,827 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a surveyor?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $75,440. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $56,781 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #11 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a surveyor afford rent in Detroit, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Detroit, MI is $1,128 a month ($1,413 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median surveyor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $129,990
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $128,650
- Engineers, All Other — $126,250
- Electrical Engineer — $114,390
- Mechanical Engineer — $109,470
- Industrial Engineer — $104,110
- Materials Engineer — $100,070
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $97,920
- Civil Engineer — $92,550
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $77,710
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $77,150
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $76,190