17 Series · SOC 17-1022

Surveyors Salary

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

$75,440
Median / year
+3.7%
2024→2025
$125,590
Top 10% earn
+4.4%
Growth '24–'34
50,830
Estimated US jobs

Surveyors earn a median of $75,440 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $75,440, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $46,880 (10th percentile) to $125,590 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 50,830 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is California ($105,330).

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

Surveyors earn a median of $75,440, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 67% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Architecture and Engineering, it ranks #26 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.4% by 2034.

$75,440
Median annual wage
Top 33%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#26 of 36
in Architecture and Engineering
2.7×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: California at $105,330. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Surveyors moved from $63,420 in May 2019 to $75,440 in May 2025 (+19.0%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Surveyors sits -5.5 pp behind that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Surveyors (SOC 17-1022) has a national median of $75,440 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $46,880 to $125,590, and the published mean is $80,570. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 50,830 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 52 state or territory areas and 297 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $72,740 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $75,440 in May 2025, a rise of $2,700 (+3.7%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.4% 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 3,900 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as internship/residency. 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 $105,330, which is +40% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Yuba City, CA at $133,270. 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 50,830 jobs Median $75,440/yr

Median Salary

$75,440

per year

Median Hourly

$36.27/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$80,570

average

Employment

50,830

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Surveyors pay sits nationally

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

$75,440 Top 33% higher than 67% 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%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). This entry sits in this band. $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–$60,000 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 (this entry) 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%

$75,440 · 67th 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 Surveyors; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 23 17-series occupations with growth data, Surveyors sits on the slower-growing side at +4.4% growth and $75,440 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, Surveyors sits on the slower-growing side at +4.4% growth and $75,440 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

+4.4%

About as fast as average

Annual Openings

3,900

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+2,500

56,100 (2024) → 58,600 (2034)

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

On-the-Job Training

Internship/residency

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 Surveyors roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Mathematics 4.0
Reading Comprehension 3.9
Writing 3.8
Critical Thinking 3.8
Speaking 3.6
Active Listening 3.5
Coordination 3.5
Active Learning 3.3
Judgment and Decision Making 3.3
Learning Strategies 3.1

Knowledge Areas

Mathematics 4.7
Engineering and Technology 4.3
Geography 4.0
Computers and Electronics 4.0
Customer and Personal Service 3.7
Design 3.7
Building and Construction 3.7
Administration and Management 3.6
English Language 3.5
Law and Government 3.5

Key Tasks

  • Direct or conduct surveys to establish legal boundaries for properties, based on legal deeds and titles.
  • Prepare and maintain sketches, maps, reports, and legal descriptions of surveys to describe, certify, and assume liability for work performed.
  • Write descriptions of property boundary surveys for use in deeds, leases, or other legal documents.
  • Verify the accuracy of survey data, including measurements and calculations conducted at survey sites.
  • Search legal records, survey records, and land titles to obtain information about property boundaries in areas to be surveyed.
  • Record the results of surveys, including the shape, contour, location, elevation, and dimensions of land or land features.
  • Prepare, or supervise preparation of, all data, charts, plots, maps, records, and documents related to surveys.
  • Compute geodetic measurements and interpret survey data to determine positions, shapes, and elevations of geomorphic and topographic features.
  • Calculate heights, depths, relative positions, property lines, and other characteristics of terrain.
  • Plan and conduct ground surveys designed to establish baselines, elevations, and other geodetic measurements.

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

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$46,880
25th$58,170
Median$75,440
75th$98,130
90th$125,590

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$22.54
25th$27.97
Median$36.27
75th$47.18
90th$60.38

Surveyors pay history, 2015–2025

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

$55,000$60,000$65,000$70,000$75,000$80,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $58,020National median - 2016: $59,390National median - 2017: $61,140National median - 2018: $62,580National median - 2019: $63,420National median - 2020: $65,590National median - 2021: $61,600National median - 2022: $63,080National median - 2023: $68,540National median - 2024: $72,740National median - 2025: $75,440$75,440
National median annual wage for Surveyors, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $58,020
2016 $59,390
2017 $61,140
2018 $62,580
2019 $63,420
2020 $65,590
2021 $61,600
2022 $63,080
2023 $68,540
2024 $72,740
2025 $75,440

2015 median

$58,020

2025 median

$75,440

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$12,020 (+19%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+2.9%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Surveyors by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $58,020 First banked release 43,140
May 2016 $59,390 +2.4% 43,340
May 2017 $61,140 +2.9% 43,430
May 2018 $62,580 +2.4% 45,310
May 2019 $63,420 Classification break 45,220
May 2020 $65,590 +3.4% 43,710
May 2021 $61,600 -6.1% 46,390
May 2022 $63,080 +2.4% 47,770
May 2023 $68,540 +8.7% 50,740
May 2024 $72,740 +6.1% 53,080
May 2025 $75,440 +3.7% 50,830

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $58,020 in May 2015 to $75,440 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +2.9% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 45,220 in May 2019 to 50,830 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 52 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 California $105,330 +40% above national
2 Alaska $99,550 +32% above national
3 Oregon $97,070 +29% above national
4 Massachusetts $94,590 +25% above national
5 Washington $85,610 +13% above national
6 Montana $84,610 +12% above national
7 Minnesota $83,620 +11% above national
8 Maine $83,200 +10% above national
9 Delaware $82,890 +10% above national
10 Nevada $82,460 +9% above national
11 Hawaii $82,200 +9% above national
12 Wyoming $81,250 +8% above national
13 Indiana $80,510 +7% above national
14 Wisconsin $79,650 +6% above national
15 North Dakota $79,360 +5% above national
16 Colorado $79,310 +5% above national
17 New York $78,870 +5% above national
18 Arizona $77,490 +3% above national
19 South Dakota $77,190 +2% above national
20 New Jersey $77,160 +2% above national
21 Iowa $77,090 +2% above national
22 Connecticut $76,730 +2% above national
23 Vermont $76,450 +1% above national
24 Tennessee $76,340 +1% above national
25 North Carolina $76,210 +1% above national
26 Illinois $75,980 +1% above national
27 Pennsylvania $75,950 +1% above national
28 Kansas $75,860 +1% above national
29 New Mexico $74,230 2% below national
30 Idaho $73,940 2% below national
31 Utah $73,230 3% below national
32 Michigan $72,080 4% below national
33 Kentucky $71,840 5% below national
34 Virginia $71,070 6% below national
35 Ohio $70,620 6% below national
36 Nebraska $68,050 10% below national
37 Alabama $66,840 11% below national
38 Florida $65,480 13% below national
39 New Hampshire $65,130 14% below national
40 Maryland $64,910 14% below national
41 South Carolina $63,300 16% below national
42 Louisiana $63,140 16% below national
43 Rhode Island $62,670 17% below national
44 Missouri $62,110 18% below national
45 West Virginia $61,520 18% below national
46 Guam $61,490 18% below national
47 Oklahoma $61,300 19% below national
48 Texas $61,150 19% below national
49 Mississippi $58,720 22% below national
50 Georgia $58,100 23% below national
51 Arkansas $51,800 31% below national
52 Puerto Rico $44,870 41% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 213 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Yuba City, CA $133,270 +77% above national
2 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $128,600 +70% above national
3 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $125,060 +66% above national
4 Redding, CA $124,160 +65% above national
5 Vallejo, CA $123,590 +64% above national
6 Stockton-Lodi, CA $120,000 +59% above national
7 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $117,160 +55% above national
8 Kennewick-Richland, WA $111,400 +48% above national
9 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $107,700 +43% above national
10 Fresno, CA $107,230 +42% above national
11 Bellingham, WA $106,590 +41% above national
12 Salem, OR $102,880 +36% above national
13 Fargo, ND-MN $102,270 +36% above national
14 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $102,210 +35% above national
15 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $101,950 +35% above national
16 Anchorage, AK $101,820 +35% above national
17 Salinas, CA $101,120 +34% above national
18 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $100,930 +34% above national
19 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $100,920 +34% above national
20 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $100,510 +33% above national
21 Modesto, CA $99,270 +32% above national
22 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $99,030 +31% above national
23 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $98,810 +31% above national
24 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $98,610 +31% above national
25 Bend, OR $96,240 +28% above national
26 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $94,970 +26% above national
27 Raleigh-Cary, NC $93,660 +24% above national
28 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $91,750 +22% above national
29 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $91,060 +21% above national
30 Madison, WI $90,310 +20% above national
31 Eugene-Springfield, OR $89,630 +19% above national
32 Portland-South Portland, ME $88,880 +18% above national
33 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $88,050 +17% above national
34 Bozeman, MT $86,380 +15% above national
35 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $85,610 +13% above national
36 Fort Wayne, IN $84,800 +12% above national
37 Billings, MT $84,670 +12% above national
38 Worcester, MA $84,270 +12% above national
39 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $83,610 +11% above national
40 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $83,420 +11% above national
41 Evansville, IN $82,920 +10% above national
42 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $82,170 +9% above national
43 Urban Honolulu, HI $82,070 +9% above national
44 Missoula, MT $81,940 +9% above national
45 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $81,560 +8% above national
46 Green Bay, WI $81,550 +8% above national
47 New Haven, CT $81,490 +8% above national
48 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $81,400 +8% above national
49 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $81,030 +7% above national
50 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $80,970 +7% above national
51 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $80,060 +6% above national
52 Albuquerque, NM $79,920 +6% above national
53 Topeka, KS $79,630 +6% above national
54 Bismarck, ND $79,620 +6% above national
55 Colorado Springs, CO $79,530 +5% above national
56 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $79,500 +5% above national
57 Helena, MT $79,230 +5% above national
58 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $79,230 +5% above national
59 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $79,140 +5% above national
60 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $79,040 +5% above national
61 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $78,870 +5% above national
62 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $78,860 +5% above national
63 Lexington-Fayette, KY $78,690 +4% above national
64 Reno, NV $78,640 +4% above national
65 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA $78,540 +4% above national
66 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $78,490 +4% above national
67 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $78,460 +4% above national
68 Springfield, IL $78,460 +4% above national
69 Rapid City, SD $78,320 +4% above national
70 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $78,230 +4% above national
71 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $78,170 +4% above national
72 Toledo, OH $78,140 +4% above national
73 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $77,920 +3% above national
74 Columbus, OH $77,320 +2% above national
75 York-Hanover, PA $77,170 +2% above national
76 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $77,160 +2% above national
77 Pittsburgh, PA $77,080 +2% above national
78 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $77,050 +2% above national
79 Boulder, CO $76,980 +2% above national
80 Greensboro-High Point, NC $76,930 +2% above national
81 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $76,880 +2% above national
82 Lancaster, PA $76,880 +2% above national
83 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $76,710 +2% above national
84 Manchester-Nashua, NH $76,310 +1% above national
85 Cedar Rapids, IA $76,190 +1% above national
86 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $76,130 +1% above national
87 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $76,110 +1% above national
88 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $76,060 +1% above national
89 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $75,870 +1% above national
90 Duluth, MN-WI $75,360 same as national
91 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $75,210 same as national
92 Grand Junction, CO $75,110 same as national
93 Boise City, ID $75,050 1% below national
94 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $74,920 1% below national
95 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $74,880 1% below national
96 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $74,670 1% below national
97 Birmingham, AL $74,670 1% below national
98 Syracuse, NY $74,440 1% below national
99 Clarksville, TN-KY $74,410 1% below national
100 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $74,390 1% below national
101 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $74,200 2% below national
102 Richmond, VA $74,150 2% below national
103 Knoxville, TN $74,100 2% below national
104 Asheville, NC $74,030 2% below national
105 Coeur d'Alene, ID $73,930 2% below national
106 Kansas City, MO-KS $73,780 2% below national
107 Ogden, UT $73,440 3% below national
108 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $73,290 3% below national
109 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $73,280 3% below national
110 Tucson, AZ $73,120 3% below national
111 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $72,800 3% below national
112 Canton-Massillon, OH $72,750 4% below national
113 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $72,470 4% below national
114 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $72,420 4% below national
115 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $72,360 4% below national
116 Port St. Lucie, FL $72,350 4% below national
117 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $72,230 4% below national
118 Wilmington, NC $72,160 4% below national
119 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $72,100 4% below national
120 Greeley, CO $71,950 5% below national
121 Wichita, KS $71,750 5% below national
122 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $71,550 5% below national
123 Peoria, IL $71,350 5% below national
124 Winston-Salem, NC $71,320 5% below national
125 Montgomery, AL $71,210 6% below national
126 Naples-Marco Island, FL $71,090 6% below national
127 Killeen-Temple, TX $70,270 7% below national
128 Tallahassee, FL $70,030 7% below national
129 Lincoln, NE $70,010 7% below national
130 Baton Rouge, LA $69,710 8% below national
131 Rochester, NY $69,490 8% below national
132 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $68,890 9% below national
133 Spartanburg, SC $68,510 9% below national
134 Sherman-Denison, TX $66,980 11% below national
135 Savannah, GA $66,870 11% below national
136 Jacksonville, FL $66,590 12% below national
137 Columbia, SC $66,580 12% below national
138 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $66,440 12% below national
139 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $66,390 12% below national
140 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $66,340 12% below national
141 Gainesville, FL $66,290 12% below national
142 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $66,030 12% below national
143 Bowling Green, KY $65,960 13% below national
144 Charlottesville, VA $65,820 13% below national
145 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $65,720 13% below national
146 St. Louis, MO-IL $65,560 13% below national
147 Joplin, MO-KS $65,340 13% below national
148 Mobile, AL $65,110 14% below national
149 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $65,000 14% below national
150 Springfield, MO $64,910 14% below national
151 Lake Charles, LA $64,520 14% below national
152 Omaha, NE-IA $64,360 15% below national
153 Cleveland, OH $64,300 15% below national
154 Tuscaloosa, AL $64,280 15% below national
155 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $64,210 15% below national
156 Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA $64,200 15% below national
157 Reading, PA $64,150 15% below national
158 Bangor, ME $64,120 15% below national
159 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $64,010 15% below national
160 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $63,900 15% below national
161 Oklahoma City, OK $63,880 15% below national
162 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA $63,800 15% below national
163 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $63,680 16% below national
164 Lexington Park, MD $63,130 16% below national
165 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $62,960 17% below national
166 Huntsville, AL $62,880 17% below national
167 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $62,630 17% below national
168 Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL $62,370 17% below national
169 Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL $61,960 18% below national
170 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $61,890 18% below national
171 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $61,720 18% below national
172 Corpus Christi, TX $61,650 18% below national
173 Akron, OH $61,500 18% below national
174 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $61,210 19% below national
175 Midland, TX $61,180 19% below national
176 Columbus, GA-AL $60,970 19% below national
177 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $60,940 19% below national
178 Jackson, MS $60,800 19% below national
179 Tulsa, OK $60,600 20% below national
180 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $60,560 20% below national
181 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $60,550 20% below national
182 Charleston, WV $60,160 20% below national
183 Gainesville, GA $59,960 21% below national
184 Chattanooga, TN-GA $59,850 21% below national
185 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL $59,800 21% below national
186 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $59,740 21% below national
187 Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $59,730 21% below national
188 Wheeling, WV-OH $59,720 21% below national
189 Odessa, TX $59,660 21% below national
190 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $59,140 22% below national
191 Monroe, LA $58,920 22% below national
192 Waco, TX $58,430 23% below national
193 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $58,360 23% below national
194 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $58,250 23% below national
195 Beckley, WV $58,240 23% below national
196 Wildwood-The Villages, FL $58,170 23% below national
197 Ocala, FL $58,070 23% below national
198 Longview, TX $57,670 24% below national
199 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $57,580 24% below national
200 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $57,260 24% below national
201 Tyler, TX $56,810 25% below national
202 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $55,490 26% below national
203 Youngstown-Warren, OH $55,010 27% below national
204 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $54,240 28% below national
205 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $53,920 29% below national
206 Erie, PA $53,650 29% below national
207 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $53,210 29% below national
208 El Paso, TX $51,380 32% below national
209 Lubbock, TX $50,780 33% below national
210 Morgantown, WV $50,220 33% below national
211 Lafayette, LA $49,820 34% below national
212 College Station-Bryan, TX $49,660 34% below national
213 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $46,060 39% 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 ($75,440 here) and reported employment (50,830 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 Surveyors make?
The median annual salary for Surveyors is $75,440 ($36.27/hour). The salary range spans from $46,880 at the 10th percentile to $125,590 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Surveyors pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $75,440, Surveyors pay is higher than 67% 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 Surveyors the most?
California pays the highest median salary for Surveyors at $105,330/year, which is +40% above the national median.
What education do Surveyors need?
BLS assigns Surveyors to Bachelor's degree for typical education needed for entry. Typical on-the-job training assignment: Internship/residency.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Surveyors?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Surveyors 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 Surveyors a good career?
Employment for Surveyors is projected to grow 4.4% from 2024 to 2034, which is about as fast as average. About 3,900 openings are projected each year.
How does Surveyors pay vary by state?
Surveyors salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $105,330/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $44,870/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Surveyors?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Yuba City, CA at $133,270/year. BLS reports a median for 213 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Surveyors pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $98,130/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 $105,330/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.