California Median
$105,330
per year
Hourly Rate
$50.64
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+40% vs US median
US median $75,440
State Rank
#1 of 50
4,520 employed here
How much does a Surveyor make in California?
Surveyors in California take home a median of $105,330 annually — roughly $50.64 an hour — which runs 40% above the national median of $75,440.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $59,310 while the top 10% make $160,430 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $78,500 and $134,250 a year.
Surveyor salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,310 | $28.51 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $78,500 | $37.74 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $105,330 | $50.64 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $134,250 | $64.54 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,430 | $77.13 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 1st out of 50 states and territories for Surveyor pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Surveyor salary in other states
Alaska $99,550Oregon $97,070Massachusetts $94,590Washington $85,610Montana $84,610Minnesota $83,620Maine $83,200Delaware $82,890Nevada $82,460Hawaii $82,200Wyoming $81,250Indiana $80,510Wisconsin $79,650North Dakota $79,360Colorado $79,310New York $78,870Arizona $77,490South Dakota $77,190New Jersey $77,160Iowa $77,090Connecticut $76,730Vermont $76,450Tennessee $76,340North Carolina $76,210Illinois $75,980Pennsylvania $75,950Kansas $75,860New Mexico $74,230Idaho $73,940Utah $73,230Michigan $72,080Kentucky $71,840Virginia $71,070Ohio $70,620Nebraska $68,050Alabama $66,840Florida $65,480New Hampshire $65,130Maryland $64,910South Carolina $63,300Louisiana $63,140Rhode Island $62,670Missouri $62,110West Virginia $61,520Oklahoma $61,300Texas $61,150Mississippi $58,720Georgia $58,100Arkansas $51,800
Working as a Surveyor in California
Nationally, about 51,000 people work as Surveyors in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($105,330) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Surveyor make in California?
The median Surveyor salary in California is $105,330 per year, or about $50.64 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $59,310 at the entry level to $160,430 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Surveyors about 40% more than the national median of $75,440. California ranks 1st out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Surveyors?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $105,330 a year. About 4,520 Surveyors are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Surveyor salary report
Related salaries
$63,520
median pay · 14,000 employed
$102,440
median pay · 366,000 employed
$100,840
median pay · 368,000 employed
$74,510
median pay · 36,000 employed
$76,870
median pay · 18,000 employed
$73,900
median pay · 16,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.