Surveyors Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for surveyorss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $80,570 ≈ $39/hr
National median salary $75,440
Total employment 50,830 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +4.4%
Faster than average
Annual openings 3,900 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 56,100 → 58,600 (+2,500)
Typical entry education Bachelor's degree
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- California$110,220
- Alaska$104,340
- Oregon$96,920
- Washington$95,530
- Nevada$92,420
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Arkansas$58,160
- Mississippi$65,510
- Missouri$67,640
- West Virginia$67,780
- Oklahoma$68,290
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $110,220 | $105,330 | $53 | +36.8% | 4,520 |
| 2 | Alaska | $104,340 | $99,550 | $50 | +29.5% | 250 |
| 3 | Oregon | $96,920 | $97,070 | $47 | +20.3% | 530 |
| 4 | Washington | $95,530 | $85,610 | $46 | +18.6% | 780 |
| 5 | Nevada | $92,420 | $82,460 | $44 | +14.7% | 490 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $92,110 | $94,590 | $44 | +14.3% | 1,290 |
| 7 | Maine | $90,520 | $83,200 | $44 | +12.3% | 270 |
| 8 | Delaware | $89,340 | $82,890 | $43 | +10.9% | 120 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $89,210 | $79,360 | $43 | +10.7% | 250 |
| 10 | Montana | $87,770 | $84,610 | $42 | +8.9% | 350 |
| 11 | New York | $87,640 | $78,870 | $42 | +8.8% | 1,470 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $87,190 | $81,250 | $42 | +8.2% | 240 |
| 13 | Iowa | $86,740 | $77,090 | $42 | +7.7% | 450 |
| 14 | South Dakota | $86,630 | $77,190 | $42 | +7.5% | 180 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $86,390 | $83,620 | $42 | +7.2% | 980 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $86,060 | $77,160 | $41 | +6.8% | 900 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $84,980 | $79,650 | $41 | +5.5% | 610 |
| 18 | Indiana | $83,000 | $80,510 | $40 | +3% | 870 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $82,710 | $76,730 | $40 | +2.7% | 430 |
| 20 | Colorado | $82,630 | $79,310 | $40 | +2.6% | 1,620 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $82,320 | $82,200 | $40 | +2.2% | 140 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $82,130 | $76,210 | $39 | +1.9% | 1,530 |
| 23 | Illinois | $81,660 | $75,980 | $39 | +1.4% | 1,710 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $80,270 | $75,950 | $39 | -0.4% | 1,610 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $79,090 | $76,340 | $38 | -1.8% | 920 |
| 26 | Kansas | $79,070 | $75,860 | $38 | -1.9% | 350 |
| 27 | Idaho | $78,680 | $73,940 | $38 | -2.3% | 250 |
| 28 | Maryland | $78,670 | $64,910 | $38 | -2.4% | 950 |
| 29 | Arizona | $78,630 | $77,490 | $38 | -2.4% | 1,360 |
| 30 | Virginia | $76,510 | $71,070 | $37 | -5% | 1,360 |
| 31 | Florida | $76,490 | $65,480 | $37 | -5.1% | 4,000 |
| 32 | Utah | $75,790 | $73,230 | $36 | -5.9% | 650 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $75,490 | $74,230 | $36 | -6.3% | 290 |
| 34 | Ohio | $75,480 | $70,620 | $36 | -6.3% | 1,300 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $72,810 | $63,140 | $35 | -9.6% | 1,460 |
| 36 | Michigan | $72,420 | $72,080 | $35 | -10.1% | 1,050 |
| 37 | Alabama | $71,980 | $66,840 | $35 | -10.7% | 910 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $71,950 | $68,050 | $35 | -10.7% | 430 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | $71,120 | $65,130 | $34 | -11.7% | 280 |
| 40 | Vermont | $70,990 | $76,450 | $34 | -11.9% | — |
| 41 | South Carolina | $70,580 | $63,300 | $34 | -12.4% | 1,000 |
| 42 | Texas | $70,450 | $61,150 | $34 | -12.6% | 6,410 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $70,020 | $71,840 | $34 | -13.1% | 670 |
| 44 | Rhode Island | $69,750 | $62,670 | $34 | -13.4% | 150 |
| 45 | Georgia | $69,720 | $58,100 | $34 | -13.5% | 1,770 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $68,290 | $61,300 | $33 | -15.2% | 960 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $67,780 | $61,520 | $33 | -15.9% | 630 |
| 48 | Missouri | $67,640 | $62,110 | $33 | -16% | 830 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $65,510 | $58,720 | $32 | -18.7% | 570 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $58,160 | $51,800 | $28 | -27.8% | 550 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 298 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuba City, CA | $133,270 | $127,690 | 50 |
| 2 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $128,600 | $120,210 | 370 |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,060 | $126,380 | 630 |
| 4 | Redding, CA | $124,160 | $124,490 | 40 |
| 5 | Vallejo, CA | $123,590 | $117,030 | 50 |
| 6 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $120,000 | $118,870 | 40 |
| 7 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $117,160 | $116,770 | 170 |
| 8 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $111,400 | $103,300 | 30 |
| 9 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $107,700 | $111,600 | 80 |
| 10 | Fresno, CA | $107,230 | $110,060 | 190 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing surveyorss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scientific Research and Development Services | $115,250 | $101,680 | 40 |
| 2 | Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $115,250 | $106,350 | — |
| 3 | Oil and Gas Extraction | $110,400 | $122,600 | 90 |
| 4 | Oil and Gas Extraction | $110,400 | $122,600 | 90 |
| 5 | Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $107,020 | $109,990 | 420 |
| 6 | Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $107,020 | $109,990 | 420 |
| 7 | Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities | $102,370 | $100,340 | — |
| 8 | Other Insurance Related Activities | $102,370 | $100,340 | — |
| 9 | Natural Gas Distribution | $98,640 | $104,290 | 190 |
| 10 | Utilities | $98,570 | $96,190 | 660 |
| 11 | Sector 22 - Utilities | $98,570 | $96,190 | 660 |
| 12 | Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $98,090 | $93,590 | 450 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do surveyors make in the U.S.?
The median surveyors salary in the United States is $75,440 per year (mean $80,570), and about 80% earn between $46,880 and $125,590.
How much do surveyors make per hour?
Roughly $39 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $80,570 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays surveyors the most?
California has the highest average pay for surveyors at $110,220 per year (median $105,330).
What is the job outlook for surveyors?
Employment is projected to change +4.4% from 2024 to 2034 (Faster than average), with about 3,900 openings per year.
What People Search
Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.
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