17 Series · SOC 17-3031

Surveying and Mapping Technicians Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$54,240
Median / year
+4.4%
2024→2025
$81,630
Top 10% earn
+4.5%
Growth '24–'34
58,010
Estimated US jobs

Surveying and Mapping Technicians earn a median of $54,240 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $54,240, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $37,520 (10th percentile) to $81,630 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 58,010 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is California ($78,110).

17 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Surveying and Mapping Technicians earn a median of $54,240, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 40% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Architecture and Engineering, it ranks #36 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.5% by 2034.

$54,240
Median annual wage
Top 60%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#36 of 36
in Architecture and Engineering
2.2×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: California at $78,110. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Surveying and Mapping Technicians moved from $45,010 in May 2019 to $54,240 in May 2025 (+20.5%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Surveying and Mapping Technicians sits -3.9 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Surveying and Mapping Technicians (SOC 17-3031) has a national median of $54,240 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $37,520 to $81,630, and the published mean is $58,000. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 58,010 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 51 state or territory areas and 307 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $51,940 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $54,240 in May 2025, a rise of $2,300 (+4.4%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.5% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 7,600 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Architecture and Engineering Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $78,110, which is +44% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA at $101,270. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 58,010 jobs Median $54,240/yr

Median Salary

$54,240

per year

Median Hourly

$26.08/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$58,000

average

Employment

58,010

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Surveying and Mapping Technicians pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$54,240 Bottom 40% higher than 40% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 (this entry) 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$54,240 · 40th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 17-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Surveying and Mapping Technicians; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 23 17-series occupations with growth data, Surveying and Mapping Technicians sits on the slower-growing side at +4.5% growth and $54,240 median pay. Scatter plot of 23 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000 -10%-5%0%5%10%15% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Civil Engineers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5% · Median annual wage: $100840Industrial Engineers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 11% · Median annual wage: $102440Mechanical Engineers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 9.1% · Median annual wage: $104110Electrical Engineers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 7.2% · Median annual wage: $120630Engineers, All Other - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.1% · Median annual wage: $122930Architects, Except L… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.9% · Median annual wage: $99280Architectural and Ci… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.1% · Median annual wage: $66150Electronics Engineer… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.2% · Median annual wage: $130220Electrical and Elect… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.6% · Median annual wage: $78190Computer Hardware En… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 7.3% · Median annual wage: $161740Industrial Engineeri… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.7% · Median annual wage: $66120Civil Engineering Te… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.1% · Median annual wage: $64950Aerospace Engineers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.1% · Median annual wage: $134960Engineering Technolo… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.5% · Median annual wage: $78350Surveying and Mappin… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.5% · Median annual wage: $54240Surveyors - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.4% · Median annual wage: $75440Mechanical Drafters - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.5% · Median annual wage: $71550Environmental Engine… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.9% · Median annual wage: $107110Bioengineers and Bio… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.2% · Median annual wage: $109370Materials Engineers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.7% · Median annual wage: $112860Health and Safety En… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.4% · Median annual wage: $115160Chemical Engineers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.6% · Median annual wage: $125040Landscape Architects - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.5% · Median annual wage: $79870
Among 23 17-series occupations with growth data, Surveying and Mapping Technicians sits on the slower-growing side at +4.5% growth and $54,240 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Civil Engineers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5%, Median annual wage $100840
  • Industrial Engineers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 11%, Median annual wage $102440
  • Mechanical Engineers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.1%, Median annual wage $104110
  • Electrical Engineers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.2%, Median annual wage $120630
  • Engineers, All Other: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.1%, Median annual wage $122930
  • Architects, Except L…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.9%, Median annual wage $99280
  • Architectural and Ci…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $66150
  • Electronics Engineer…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.2%, Median annual wage $130220
  • Electrical and Elect…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.6%, Median annual wage $78190
  • Computer Hardware En…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.3%, Median annual wage $161740
  • Industrial Engineeri…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.7%, Median annual wage $66120
  • Civil Engineering Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.1%, Median annual wage $64950
  • Aerospace Engineers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.1%, Median annual wage $134960
  • Engineering Technolo…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.5%, Median annual wage $78350
  • Surveying and Mappin…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $54240
  • Surveyors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.4%, Median annual wage $75440
  • Mechanical Drafters: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.5%, Median annual wage $71550
  • Environmental Engine…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.9%, Median annual wage $107110
  • Bioengineers and Bio…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.2%, Median annual wage $109370
  • Materials Engineers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.7%, Median annual wage $112860
  • Health and Safety En…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.4%, Median annual wage $115160
  • Chemical Engineers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.6%, Median annual wage $125040
  • Landscape Architects: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.5%, Median annual wage $79870

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+4.5%

About as fast as average

Annual Openings

7,600

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+2,700

59,400 (2024) → 62,100 (2034)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Architecture and Engineering Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

2/100K

Injury Rate

0.5/100

Danger Index

3/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Surveying and Mapping Technicians roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 3.9
Critical Thinking 3.4
Writing 3.3
Mathematics 3.3
Active Listening 3.1
Speaking 3.1
Monitoring 3.1
Complex Problem Solving 3.1
Active Learning 3.0
Coordination 3.0

Knowledge Areas

Computers and Electronics 4.2
Geography 3.9
Mathematics 3.7
English Language 3.6
Engineering and Technology 3.5
Design 3.3
Customer and Personal Service 3.2
Administrative 2.9
Law and Government 2.8
Administration and Management 2.7

Key Tasks

  • Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations.
  • Check all layers of maps to ensure accuracy, identifying and marking errors and making corrections.
  • Design or develop information databases that include geographic or topographic data.
  • Monitor mapping work or the updating of maps to ensure accuracy, inclusion of new or changed information, or compliance with rules and regulations.
  • Produce or update overlay maps to show information boundaries, water locations, or topographic features on various base maps or at different scales.
  • Determine scales, line sizes, or colors to be used for hard copies of computerized maps, using plotters.
  • Compile information necessary to stake projects for construction, using engineering plans.
  • Identify and compile database information to create requested maps.
  • Operate and manage land-information computer systems, performing tasks such as storing data, making inquiries, and producing plots and reports.
  • Compare survey computations with applicable standards to determine adequacy of data.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$37,520
25th$45,430
Median$54,240
75th$66,700
90th$81,630

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$18.04
25th$21.84
Median$26.08
75th$32.07
90th$39.24

Surveying and Mapping Technicians pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$40,000$45,000$50,000$55,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $42,010National median - 2016: $42,450National median - 2017: $43,340National median - 2018: $44,380National median - 2019: $45,010National median - 2020: $46,200National median - 2021: $46,910National median - 2022: $47,180National median - 2023: $48,940National median - 2024: $51,940National median - 2025: $54,240$54,240
National median annual wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $42,010
2016 $42,450
2017 $43,340
2018 $44,380
2019 $45,010
2020 $46,200
2021 $46,910
2022 $47,180
2023 $48,940
2024 $51,940
2025 $54,240

2015 median

$42,010

2025 median

$54,240

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$9,230 (+20.5%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+3.2%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Surveying and Mapping Technicians by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $42,010 First banked release 53,620
May 2016 $42,450 +1.0% 53,920
May 2017 $43,340 +2.1% 51,890
May 2018 $44,380 +2.4% 52,300
May 2019 $45,010 Classification break 53,030
May 2020 $46,200 +2.6% 53,370
May 2021 $46,910 +1.5% 56,070
May 2022 $47,180 +0.6% 56,580
May 2023 $48,940 +3.7% 56,050
May 2024 $51,940 +6.1% 56,720
May 2025 $54,240 +4.4% 58,010

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $42,010 in May 2015 to $54,240 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +3.2% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 53,030 in May 2019 to 58,010 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 51 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 California $78,110 +44% above national
2 Alaska $76,970 +42% above national
3 Minnesota $73,190 +35% above national
4 Washington $62,720 +16% above national
5 Maryland $61,600 +14% above national
6 North Dakota $60,870 +12% above national
7 New Jersey $60,720 +12% above national
8 Montana $60,330 +11% above national
9 Ohio $60,330 +11% above national
10 Rhode Island $60,320 +11% above national
11 Utah $59,600 +10% above national
12 Wisconsin $59,080 +9% above national
13 Iowa $58,950 +9% above national
14 Connecticut $58,900 +9% above national
15 Nevada $58,790 +8% above national
16 Massachusetts $58,730 +8% above national
17 Pennsylvania $58,270 +7% above national
18 Wyoming $58,220 +7% above national
19 Colorado $57,890 +7% above national
20 Illinois $57,470 +6% above national
21 New York $57,360 +6% above national
22 New Hampshire $57,290 +6% above national
23 Delaware $57,130 +5% above national
24 Virginia $56,760 +5% above national
25 Maine $56,470 +4% above national
26 Vermont $56,460 +4% above national
27 Indiana $56,440 +4% above national
28 New Mexico $56,210 +4% above national
29 Oregon $55,790 +3% above national
30 Hawaii $55,580 +2% above national
31 Arizona $54,080 same as national
32 North Carolina $53,160 2% below national
33 Idaho $52,630 3% below national
34 Missouri $51,700 5% below national
35 Kansas $50,900 6% below national
36 Tennessee $50,370 7% below national
37 Michigan $50,340 7% below national
38 South Dakota $50,050 8% below national
39 Louisiana $49,440 9% below national
40 Georgia $48,810 10% below national
41 West Virginia $48,530 11% below national
42 Nebraska $48,080 11% below national
43 Florida $48,040 11% below national
44 Texas $47,680 12% below national
45 Mississippi $47,320 13% below national
46 Oklahoma $46,760 14% below national
47 Alabama $46,450 14% below national
48 Arkansas $46,370 15% below national
49 Kentucky $46,050 15% below national
50 South Carolina $43,740 19% below national
51 Puerto Rico $32,370 40% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 222 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $101,270 +87% above national
2 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $92,700 +71% above national
3 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $84,360 +56% above national
4 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $81,120 +50% above national
5 Visalia, CA $80,680 +49% above national
6 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $79,450 +46% above national
7 Vallejo, CA $78,790 +45% above national
8 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $78,110 +44% above national
9 Anchorage, AK $76,970 +42% above national
10 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $76,560 +41% above national
11 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $76,140 +40% above national
12 Stockton-Lodi, CA $75,990 +40% above national
13 Reno, NV $73,320 +35% above national
14 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $72,230 +33% above national
15 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $71,940 +33% above national
16 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $68,640 +27% above national
17 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $68,270 +26% above national
18 Bend, OR $67,410 +24% above national
19 Santa Fe, NM $66,310 +22% above national
20 Kennewick-Richland, WA $66,130 +22% above national
21 Bellingham, WA $64,900 +20% above national
22 Modesto, CA $64,890 +20% above national
23 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $64,720 +19% above national
24 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $64,600 +19% above national
25 Boulder, CO $64,570 +19% above national
26 Toledo, OH $63,720 +17% above national
27 Ann Arbor, MI $63,560 +17% above national
28 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $63,510 +17% above national
29 Bozeman, MT $62,830 +16% above national
30 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $62,720 +16% above national
31 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $62,570 +15% above national
32 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $62,420 +15% above national
33 Madison, WI $62,400 +15% above national
34 Cleveland, OH $61,860 +14% above national
35 Fresno, CA $61,720 +14% above national
36 Duluth, MN-WI $61,670 +14% above national
37 Naples-Marco Island, FL $61,400 +13% above national
38 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $61,340 +13% above national
39 Grand Junction, CO $61,300 +13% above national
40 Ogden, UT $61,280 +13% above national
41 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $61,220 +13% above national
42 Green Bay, WI $61,210 +13% above national
43 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $61,090 +13% above national
44 Salem, OR $61,090 +13% above national
45 Waco, TX $60,960 +12% above national
46 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $60,890 +12% above national
47 Manchester-Nashua, NH $60,890 +12% above national
48 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $60,800 +12% above national
49 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $60,480 +12% above national
50 Colorado Springs, CO $60,480 +12% above national
51 Columbus, OH $60,330 +11% above national
52 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $60,320 +11% above national
53 Coeur d'Alene, ID $60,280 +11% above national
54 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $60,040 +11% above national
55 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $59,970 +11% above national
56 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $59,960 +11% above national
57 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA $59,870 +10% above national
58 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $59,850 +10% above national
59 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $59,820 +10% above national
60 Topeka, KS $59,770 +10% above national
61 Bloomington, IN $59,730 +10% above national
62 Cedar Rapids, IA $59,520 +10% above national
63 York-Hanover, PA $59,500 +10% above national
64 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $59,480 +10% above national
65 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $59,480 +10% above national
66 Richmond, VA $59,480 +10% above national
67 Iowa City, IA $59,350 +9% above national
68 Bismarck, ND $59,260 +9% above national
69 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $59,170 +9% above national
70 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $58,850 +8% above national
71 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $58,780 +8% above national
72 Las Cruces, NM $58,700 +8% above national
73 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $58,480 +8% above national
74 Portland-South Portland, ME $58,420 +8% above national
75 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $58,380 +8% above national
76 Fayetteville, NC $58,280 +7% above national
77 Akron, OH $58,150 +7% above national
78 St. Louis, MO-IL $58,130 +7% above national
79 Fort Wayne, IN $58,090 +7% above national
80 Missoula, MT $58,080 +7% above national
81 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $57,890 +7% above national
82 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $57,760 +6% above national
83 Greeley, CO $57,740 +6% above national
84 Idaho Falls, ID $57,650 +6% above national
85 Billings, MT $57,560 +6% above national
86 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $57,530 +6% above national
87 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $57,470 +6% above national
88 Eugene-Springfield, OR $57,470 +6% above national
89 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $57,410 +6% above national
90 Pittsburgh, PA $57,400 +6% above national
91 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $57,270 +6% above national
92 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $57,260 +6% above national
93 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $57,200 +5% above national
94 Yuma, AZ $57,090 +5% above national
95 Winchester, VA-WV $57,070 +5% above national
96 Greensboro-High Point, NC $56,910 +5% above national
97 Wichita, KS $56,910 +5% above national
98 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $56,860 +5% above national
99 Albuquerque, NM $56,620 +4% above national
100 Canton-Massillon, OH $56,560 +4% above national
101 Auburn-Opelika, AL $56,320 +4% above national
102 Pueblo, CO $56,240 +4% above national
103 Savannah, GA $56,010 +3% above national
104 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $55,900 +3% above national
105 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $55,890 +3% above national
106 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $55,640 +3% above national
107 Wheeling, WV-OH $55,430 +2% above national
108 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $54,870 +1% above national
109 New Haven, CT $54,290 same as national
110 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $53,980 same as national
111 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $53,970 same as national
112 Dover, DE $53,920 1% below national
113 Tuscaloosa, AL $53,850 1% below national
114 Gainesville, FL $53,640 1% below national
115 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $53,560 1% below national
116 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $52,670 3% below national
117 Farmington, NM $52,670 3% below national
118 Asheville, NC $52,400 3% below national
119 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $52,150 4% below national
120 Charlottesville, VA $51,690 5% below national
121 Kansas City, MO-KS $50,900 6% below national
122 Wilmington, NC $50,670 7% below national
123 Baton Rouge, LA $50,620 7% below national
124 Jacksonville, NC $50,400 7% below national
125 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $50,270 7% below national
126 Tucson, AZ $50,260 7% below national
127 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $50,090 8% below national
128 Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL $50,030 8% below national
129 Knoxville, TN $50,010 8% below national
130 Port St. Lucie, FL $49,990 8% below national
131 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $49,950 8% below national
132 Bangor, ME $49,910 8% below national
133 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $49,850 8% below national
134 Killeen-Temple, TX $49,780 8% below national
135 Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA $49,760 8% below national
136 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $49,570 9% below national
137 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $49,530 9% below national
138 Amarillo, TX $49,500 9% below national
139 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $49,470 9% below national
140 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $49,220 9% below national
141 Lubbock, TX $49,220 9% below national
142 Sherman-Denison, TX $49,220 9% below national
143 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $49,180 9% below national
144 El Paso, TX $49,150 9% below national
145 Raleigh-Cary, NC $49,150 9% below national
146 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $49,130 9% below national
147 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $48,890 10% below national
148 Urban Honolulu, HI $48,850 10% below national
149 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $48,810 10% below national
150 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $48,780 10% below national
151 Boise City, ID $48,670 10% below national
152 Omaha, NE-IA $48,550 10% below national
153 Springfield, MO $48,500 11% below national
154 Clarksville, TN-KY $48,470 11% below national
155 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $48,430 11% below national
156 Lynchburg, VA $48,410 11% below national
157 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $48,160 11% below national
158 Lincoln, NE $48,080 11% below national
159 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $47,960 12% below national
160 Winston-Salem, NC $47,890 12% below national
161 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $47,880 12% below national
162 Roanoke, VA $47,850 12% below national
163 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $47,760 12% below national
164 Worcester, MA $47,710 12% below national
165 Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC $47,700 12% below national
166 Monroe, LA $47,670 12% below national
167 College Station-Bryan, TX $47,600 12% below national
168 Birmingham, AL $47,520 12% below national
169 Jackson, MS $47,500 12% below national
170 Chattanooga, TN-GA $47,460 12% below national
171 Tallahassee, FL $47,440 13% below national
172 Medford, OR $47,400 13% below national
173 Morgantown, WV $47,360 13% below national
174 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $47,320 13% below national
175 Huntsville, AL $47,280 13% below national
176 Corpus Christi, TX $47,250 13% below national
177 Syracuse, NY $47,250 13% below national
178 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $47,060 13% below national
179 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $46,980 13% below national
180 Jacksonville, FL $46,960 13% below national
181 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $46,920 13% below national
182 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $46,800 14% below national
183 Oklahoma City, OK $46,800 14% below national
184 Tulsa, OK $46,760 14% below national
185 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $46,700 14% below national
186 Rochester, NY $46,610 14% below national
187 Gainesville, GA $46,250 15% below national
188 Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL $46,170 15% below national
189 Charleston, WV $46,100 15% below national
190 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $45,990 15% below national
191 Evansville, IN $45,900 15% below national
192 Hattiesburg, MS $45,860 15% below national
193 Midland, TX $45,860 15% below national
194 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $45,720 16% below national
195 Montgomery, AL $45,650 16% below national
196 Lexington-Fayette, KY $45,560 16% below national
197 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $45,530 16% below national
198 San Angelo, TX $45,500 16% below national
199 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $45,460 16% below national
200 Columbia, SC $45,370 16% below national
201 Texarkana, TX-AR $45,370 16% below national
202 Goldsboro, NC $45,310 16% below national
203 Mobile, AL $45,280 17% below national
204 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL $45,240 17% below national
205 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $45,150 17% below national
206 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $44,790 17% below national
207 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $44,700 18% below national
208 Dothan, AL $44,600 18% below national
209 Spartanburg, SC $44,580 18% below national
210 Lafayette, LA $44,440 18% below national
211 Longview, TX $44,260 18% below national
212 Wildwood-The Villages, FL $44,180 19% below national
213 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $43,740 19% below national
214 Ocala, FL $43,220 20% below national
215 Bowling Green, KY $42,880 21% below national
216 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $42,480 22% below national
217 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $41,600 23% below national
218 Florence, SC $41,430 24% below national
219 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $41,160 24% below national
220 Tyler, TX $40,060 26% below national
221 Laredo, TX $37,350 31% below national
222 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $33,860 38% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 17 (Architecture and Engineering Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 35 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Architecture and Engineering Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($54,240 here) and reported employment (58,010 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Surveying and Mapping Technicians make?
The median annual salary for Surveying and Mapping Technicians is $54,240 ($26.08/hour). The salary range spans from $37,520 at the 10th percentile to $81,630 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Surveying and Mapping Technicians pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $54,240, Surveying and Mapping Technicians pay is higher than 40% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Surveying and Mapping Technicians the most?
California pays the highest median salary for Surveying and Mapping Technicians at $78,110/year, which is +44% above the national median.
What education do Surveying and Mapping Technicians need?
BLS assigns Surveying and Mapping Technicians to High school diploma or equivalent for typical education needed for entry. Typical on-the-job training assignment: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Surveying and Mapping Technicians?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in this release. WageDex shows the Architecture and Engineering Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Surveying and Mapping Technicians a good career?
Employment for Surveying and Mapping Technicians is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034, which is about as fast as average. About 7,600 openings are projected each year.
How does Surveying and Mapping Technicians pay vary by state?
Surveying and Mapping Technicians salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $78,110/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $32,370/year. BLS data covers 51 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Surveying and Mapping Technicians?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA at $101,270/year. BLS reports a median for 222 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Surveying and Mapping Technicians pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $66,700/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $78,110/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.