Median Salary
$75,440
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$36.27
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$125,590
entry level starts ~$46,880
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 51,000 employed
How much does a Surveyor make?
Surveyors in the United States bring home a median salary of $75,440 a year, or around $36.27 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $46,880, while the top 10% earn $125,590.
That is $14,050 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Surveyor salary range by percentile
Half of all Surveyors earn between $58,170 and $98,130 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,880 | $22.54 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $58,170 | $27.97 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $75,440 | $36.27 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $98,130 | $47.18 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,590 | $60.38 |
|
Highest-paying states for Surveyor
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Surveyor pay at $105,330 a year, followed by Alaska ($99,550) and Oregon ($97,070). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $51,800 — a gap of $53,530 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Surveyor salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 50 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
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 $77,160Iowa $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
Workforce and education
About 51,000 people work as Surveyors in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $80,570 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Surveyor make in the United States?
The median Surveyor salary in the United States is $75,440 per year, or about $36.27 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $46,880, while the top 10% of earners make $125,590 or more.
How does Surveyor pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Surveyor median of $75,440 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Surveyors the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Surveyors, with a median salary of $105,330 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Surveyor?
Becoming a Surveyor typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Surveyors work in the United States?
About 51,000 people were employed as Surveyors in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.