Surveyor Salary
Surveyors earn a median $75,440 a year nationally. Architecture and Engineering Occupations
U.S. median
$75,440
$36.27 per hour
Range
$46,880 – $125,590
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
50,830
across the U.S.
▲3.7%
Pay trend: The median for surveyors in the U.S. rose from $72,740 (May 2024) to $75,440 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 1.3%.
What surveyors do
Make exact measurements and determine property boundaries. Provide data relevant to the shape, contour, gravitation, location, elevation, or dimension of land or land features on or near the earth’s surface for engineering, mapmaking, mining, land evaluation, construction, and other purposes.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.8% (faster than average)
- Openings per year
- 3,100
- Self-employed
- 2%
Employment of surveyors is projected to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 3,100 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Surveyor take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$61,902
per year · effective tax rate 17.9%
$5,159Monthly
$2,579Twice a month
$2,381Every 2 weeks
$29.76Hourly
- Federal income tax$7,767
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,677
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,094
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$61,902
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,880 | $22.54 | $39,848 |
| 25th percentile | $58,170 | $27.97 | $48,920 |
| Median (50th) | $75,440 | $36.27 | $61,902 |
| 75th percentile | $98,130 | $47.18 | $77,864 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,590 | $60.38 | $97,107 |
Surveyor salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $105,330 | +1.5% | $75,994 | $59,310 – $160,430 | 4,520 |
| Alaska | $99,550 | +16.4% | $78,863 | $73,520 – $142,980 | 250 |
| Oregon | $97,070 | +10.6% | $69,455 | $64,880 – $131,040 | 530 |
| Massachusetts | $94,590 | +12.3% | $70,865 | $57,880 – $129,410 | 1,290 |
| Washington | $85,610 | −3.1% | $69,057 | $63,860 – $134,620 | 780 |
| Montana | $84,610 | +6.8% | $64,934 | $57,720 – $120,370 | 350 |
| Minnesota | $83,620 | +79.4% | $63,494 | $49,510 – $125,040 | 980 |
| Maine | $83,200 | +3.0% | $62,908 | $56,110 – $131,890 | 270 |
| Delaware | $82,890 | −2.9% | $63,013 | $63,200 – $126,600 | 120 |
| Nevada | $82,460 | −0.6% | $66,841 | $64,160 – $127,660 | 490 |
| Hawaii | $82,200 | +3.1% | $61,941 | $58,900 – $104,190 | 140 |
| Wyoming | $81,250 | +5.1% | $65,989 | $53,500 – $116,770 | 240 |
| Indiana | $80,510 | −0.6% | $63,123 | $48,260 – $118,760 | 870 |
| Wisconsin | $79,650 | +3.7% | $62,023 | $57,510 – $118,850 | 610 |
| North Dakota | $79,360 | +0.8% | $64,371 | $52,680 – $127,780 | 250 |
| Colorado | $79,310 | +2.9% | $61,843 | $51,220 – $115,990 | 1,620 |
| New York | $78,870 | −0.2% | $60,653 | $53,390 – $126,340 | 1,470 |
| Arizona | $77,490 | −1.3% | $61,616 | $48,940 – $110,950 | 1,360 |
| South Dakota | $77,190 | −10.5% | $63,133 | $59,690 – $122,560 | 180 |
| New Jersey | $77,160 | −17.3% | $60,387 | $58,240 – $132,930 | 900 |
| Iowa | $77,090 | +0.5% | $60,785 | $47,830 – $129,670 | 450 |
| Connecticut | $76,730 | −0.0% | $60,164 | $58,140 – $109,050 | 430 |
| Vermont | $76,450 | +11.6% | $60,027 | $50,640 – $83,860 | — |
| Tennessee | $76,340 | +2.2% | $62,535 | $48,950 – $114,400 | 920 |
| North Carolina | $76,210 | +12.3% | $59,912 | $46,750 – $128,200 | 1,530 |
| Illinois | $75,980 | −2.0% | $58,666 | $46,540 – $126,300 | 1,710 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,950 | +3.1% | $59,929 | $52,160 – $115,450 | 1,610 |
| Kansas | $75,860 | +7.1% | $58,764 | $50,320 – $100,920 | 350 |
| New Mexico | $74,230 | −1.3% | $58,728 | $42,890 – $101,230 | 290 |
| Idaho | $73,940 | −0.4% | $58,036 | $46,500 – $113,400 | 250 |
| Utah | $73,230 | +14.0% | $58,018 | $45,180 – $106,230 | 650 |
| Michigan | $72,080 | +3.0% | $56,726 | $51,240 – $99,940 | 1,050 |
| Kentucky | $71,840 | +7.1% | $56,973 | $39,000 – $101,330 | 670 |
| Virginia | $71,070 | −3.1% | $55,555 | $50,770 – $109,600 | 1,360 |
| Ohio | $70,620 | +7.0% | $57,351 | $48,600 – $114,440 | 1,300 |
| Nebraska | $68,050 | +3.1% | $54,486 | $51,660 – $103,650 | 430 |
| Alabama | $66,840 | +4.9% | $52,775 | $38,520 – $112,580 | 910 |
| Florida | $65,480 | +5.4% | $54,793 | $46,160 – $121,360 | 4,000 |
| New Hampshire | $65,130 | −2.4% | $54,512 | $58,000 – $93,560 | 280 |
| Maryland | $64,910 | +4.5% | $51,616 | $44,110 – $166,400 | 950 |
| South Carolina | $63,300 | +1.8% | $50,401 | $44,710 – $100,360 | 1,000 |
| Louisiana | $63,140 | +5.2% | $51,405 | $38,810 – $111,790 | 1,460 |
| Rhode Island | $62,670 | +20.5% | $50,802 | $44,130 – $99,270 | 150 |
| Missouri | $62,110 | +4.4% | $50,104 | $42,700 – $101,730 | 830 |
| West Virginia | $61,520 | −0.1% | $49,579 | $37,920 – $100,280 | 630 |
| Oklahoma | $61,300 | +0.7% | $49,222 | $37,510 – $103,270 | 960 |
| Texas | $61,150 | +2.9% | $51,314 | $42,450 – $107,850 | 6,410 |
| Mississippi | $58,720 | +2.4% | $47,745 | $38,840 – $96,460 | 570 |
| Georgia | $58,100 | −3.8% | $46,471 | $44,680 – $105,270 | 1,770 |
| Arkansas | $51,800 | −9.5% | $41,994 | $36,380 – $91,610 | 550 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cartographer and Photogrammetrist | $81,390 | Bachelor's degree | +7.4% |
| Landscape Architect | $79,870 | Bachelor's degree | +4.4% |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $99,280 | Bachelor's degree | +4.3% |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician | $74,510 | Associate's degree | +1.3% |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafter | $76,870 | Associate's degree | -3.4% |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist and Technician | $73,900 | Associate's degree | +2.6% |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician | $78,190 | Associate's degree | +2.4% |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $78,350 | Associate's degree | +2.8% |
| Mechanical Drafter | $71,550 | Associate's degree | -6.0% |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologist and Technician | $82,890 | Associate's degree | +11.9% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a surveyor make?
The national median salary for surveyors is $75,440 a year ($36.27 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $46,880 and the top 10% earn over $125,590. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays surveyors the most?
California has the highest median pay at $105,330.
How many surveyors are there in the U.S.?
About 50,830 people work as surveyors nationwide.