Surveyor Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Surveyors in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $101,950 a year — 35% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,975 take-home, or $6,165 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median surveyor salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,599
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,321
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,478
- California income tax$5,252
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,325
- Take-home pay$73,975
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Surveyor pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,990 | $27.88 | $46,492 | $3,874 |
| 25th percentile | $76,890 | $36.97 | $58,983 | $4,915 |
| Median (50th) | $101,950 | $49.01 | $73,975 | $6,165 |
| 75th percentile | $134,310 | $64.57 | $93,060 | $7,755 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,830 | $72.51 | $102,600 | $8,550 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $101,950 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median surveyor's $73,975 take-home pay has the buying power of $65,138 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 Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.47), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for surveyors, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #5 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 →
Surveyor salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $125,060
- Riverside, CA — $100,510
Frequently asked questions
How much does a surveyor make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median surveyor salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $101,950 a year, or about $49.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $76,890 and $134,310.
What is a surveyor’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $101,950 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $73,975 a year ($6,165 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,577 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a surveyor?
Pay here is 35% above the national median of $75,440. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $65,138 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #5 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a surveyor afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median surveyor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
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