Iowa Median
$77,090
per year
Hourly Rate
$37.06
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+2% vs US median
US median $75,440
State Rank
#21 of 50
450 employed here
How much does a Surveyor make in Iowa?
Surveyors in Iowa take home a median of $77,090 annually — roughly $37.06 an hour — which runs 2% above the national median of $75,440.
Within Iowa, entry-level pay starts around $47,830 while the top 10% make $129,670 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $68,580 and $102,220 a year.
Surveyor salary range in Iowa
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,830 | $23.00 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $68,580 | $32.97 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $77,090 | $37.06 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $102,220 | $49.14 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $129,670 | $62.34 |
|
How Iowa compares
Iowa ranks 21st out of 50 states and territories for Surveyor pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Surveyor salary in other states
California $105,330Alaska $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 $77,160Connecticut $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 Iowa
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 Iowa pay ($77,090) 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 Iowa?
The median Surveyor salary in Iowa is $77,090 per year, or about $37.06 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $47,830 at the entry level to $129,670 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Iowa pay compare to the national average?
Iowa pays Surveyors about 2% more than the national median of $75,440. Iowa ranks 21st out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Iowa a good state for Surveyors?
Yes on pay — Iowa pays above the national median for this occupation, at $77,090 a year. About 450 Surveyors are employed in Iowa. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Iowa?
The highest-paying occupations in Iowa include Emergency Medicine Physician ($429,050), Dermatologist ($424,970), Radiologist ($405,220), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Surveyor salary report
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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.