Surveyor Salary in St. Louis, MO
Surveyors in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $65,560 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,713 take-home, or $4,393 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median surveyor salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,687
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,065
- Medicare (1.45%)$951
- Missouri income tax$2,144
- Take-home pay$52,713
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Surveyor pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,700 | $22.93 | $39,202 | $3,267 |
| 25th percentile | $52,120 | $25.06 | $42,546 | $3,546 |
| Median (50th) | $65,560 | $31.52 | $52,713 | $4,393 |
| 75th percentile | $85,970 | $41.33 | $66,207 | $5,517 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $113,100 | $54.38 | $84,017 | $7,001 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $65,560 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median surveyor's $52,713 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,437 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 about as common in St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for surveyors, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #14 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 |
| 14 | St. Louis, MO | $65,560 | $52,713 | $55,437 |
*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 St. Louis, MO?
The median surveyor salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $65,560 a year, or about $31.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,120 and $85,970.
What is a surveyor’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $65,560 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $52,713 a year ($4,393 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,144 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a surveyor?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $75,440. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,437 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #14 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a surveyor afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median surveyor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Electrical Engineer — $123,960
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $112,490
- Engineers, All Other — $103,880
- Industrial Engineer — $102,230
- Mechanical Engineer — $100,340
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $98,800
- Civil Engineer — $96,830
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $71,900
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $67,850
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $62,930
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $62,430