Surveyor Salary in Washington, DC
Surveyors in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $74,920 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,113 take-home, or $4,843 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$7,652
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,645
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,086
- District of Columbia income tax$3,423
- Take-home pay$58,113
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Surveyor pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,420 | $26.64 | $44,551 | $3,713 |
| 25th percentile | $61,500 | $29.57 | $49,044 | $4,087 |
| Median (50th) | $74,920 | $36.02 | $58,113 | $4,843 |
| 75th percentile | $94,330 | $45.35 | $70,142 | $5,845 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $111,800 | $53.75 | $80,947 | $6,746 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $74,920 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median surveyor's $58,113 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,371 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 Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for surveyors, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #19 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 |
| 19 | Washington, DC | $74,920 | $58,113 | $53,371 |
*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 Washington, DC?
The median surveyor salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $74,920 a year, or about $36.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,500 and $94,330.
What is a surveyor’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $74,920 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $58,113 a year ($4,843 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,423 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a surveyor?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $75,440. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,371 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #19 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a surveyor afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median surveyor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
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