Surveyors
Surveyors (SOC 17-1022) earn a median $75,440 a year ($36.27 an hour) in the United States, with 50,830 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What surveyors do
Surveyors measure the land to determine exact positions, boundaries, elevations, and the shape of the ground. Their findings support property sales, deeds and leases, construction projects, mapmaking, and mining and land evaluation. Survey work is carried out in the field with measuring instruments, while the surveyor in charge plans the job and checks the accuracy of the measurements and calculations. Back in the office, the surveyor prepares sketches, maps, reports, and written legal descriptions of the boundaries for use in deeds and other documents. Research into historical records, earlier surveys, and legal descriptions is part of establishing where a boundary lies. The role is different from cartographers, who compile maps largely from data already collected, and from civil engineers, who design the structures built on the surveyed land. Surveyors also compute geodetic measurements and interpret the data to fix positions, shapes, and elevations.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Construction Surveyor, Field Surveyor, City Surveyor, County Surveyor, Geophysical Prospecting Surveyor.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $22.54 | $27.97 | $36.27 | $47.18 | $60.38 | $38.73 | 50,830 |
| Annual | $46,880 | $58,170 | $75,440 | $98,130 | $125,590 | $80,570 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where surveyors earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $28.52 | $37.74 | $50.64 | $64.54 | $77.13 | $52.99 | 4,520 | 0.25 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $59,310 | $78,500 | $105,330 | $134,250 | $160,430 | $110,220 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $35.35 | $38.97 | $47.86 | $60.76 | $68.74 | $50.16 | 250 | 0.77 | 2.35 |
| Annual | $73,520 | $81,050 | $99,550 | $126,390 | $142,980 | $104,340 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $31.19 | $37.91 | $46.67 | $53.97 | $63.00 | $46.60 | 530 | 0.27 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $64,880 | $78,850 | $97,070 | $112,260 | $131,040 | $96,920 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $27.83 | $36.91 | $45.48 | $50.21 | $62.22 | $44.28 | 1,290 | 0.36 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $57,880 | $76,770 | $94,590 | $104,450 | $129,410 | $92,110 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $30.70 | $36.54 | $41.16 | $57.24 | $64.72 | $45.93 | 780 | 0.22 | 0.67 |
| Annual | $63,860 | $76,000 | $85,610 | $119,060 | $134,620 | $95,530 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $20.41 | $23.88 | $29.40 | $39.00 | $51.85 | $33.87 | 6,410 | 0.46 | 1.39 |
| Annual | $42,450 | $49,660 | $61,150 | $81,120 | $107,850 | $70,450 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $28.52 | $37.74 | $50.64 | $64.54 | $77.13 | $52.99 | 4,520 | 0.25 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $59,310 | $78,500 | $105,330 | $134,250 | $160,430 | $110,220 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $22.19 | $27.82 | $31.48 | $45.45 | $58.35 | $36.77 | 4,000 | 0.40 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $46,160 | $57,870 | $65,480 | $94,530 | $121,360 | $76,490 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $21.48 | $23.37 | $27.94 | $37.69 | $50.61 | $33.52 | 1,770 | 0.36 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $44,680 | $48,610 | $58,100 | $78,400 | $105,270 | $69,720 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $22.38 | $28.82 | $36.53 | $48.26 | $60.72 | $39.26 | 1,710 | 0.28 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $46,540 | $59,940 | $75,980 | $100,380 | $126,300 | $81,660 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Yuba City, CA | Hourly | $43.67 | $51.88 | $64.07 | $71.83 | $80.18 | $61.39 | 50 | 0.98 | 2.99 |
| Annual | $90,840 | $107,920 | $133,270 | $149,410 | $166,770 | $127,690 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $30.64 | $44.74 | $61.83 | $68.94 | $80.18 | $57.79 | 370 | 0.35 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $63,730 | $93,070 | $128,600 | $143,400 | $166,770 | $120,210 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $34.05 | $47.03 | $60.13 | $73.20 | $84.52 | $60.76 | 630 | 0.26 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $70,810 | $97,810 | $125,060 | $152,260 | $175,800 | $126,380 | ||||
| Redding, CA | Hourly | $36.01 | $43.33 | $59.69 | $73.20 | $80.18 | $59.85 | 40 | 0.55 | 1.68 |
| Annual | $74,900 | $90,130 | $124,160 | $152,250 | $166,770 | $124,490 | ||||
| Vallejo, CA | Hourly | $33.84 | $46.59 | $59.42 | $65.00 | $76.55 | $56.26 | 50 | 0.34 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $70,390 | $96,910 | $123,590 | $135,210 | $159,220 | $117,030 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $19.69 | $23.77 | $30.27 | $40.58 | $53.66 | $34.95 | 1,960 | 0.60 | 1.82 |
| Annual | $40,940 | $49,450 | $62,960 | $84,410 | $111,610 | $72,690 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $22.85 | $25.21 | $31.74 | $40.88 | $55.48 | $35.86 | 1,400 | 0.35 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $47,520 | $52,430 | $66,030 | $85,030 | $115,390 | $74,580 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $28.98 | $35.59 | $40.20 | $49.78 | $68.05 | $44.85 | 1,300 | 0.14 | 0.42 |
| Annual | $60,280 | $74,030 | $83,610 | $103,540 | $141,550 | $93,290 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $22.07 | $28.53 | $38.49 | $49.44 | $60.87 | $40.36 | 1,140 | 0.25 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $45,910 | $59,340 | $80,060 | $102,830 | $126,620 | $83,940 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $22.39 | $23.77 | $27.53 | $37.69 | $49.42 | $33.51 | 1,100 | 0.38 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $46,570 | $49,430 | $57,260 | $78,400 | $102,790 | $69,710 | ||||
Top industries employing surveyors
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services employ 73.3% of surveyors nationally (37,260 jobs) at a median $73,320 a year ($35.25 an hour), followed by Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (5.2%) and State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (3.0%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 37,260 | 73.3% | $73,320 | $35.25 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 2,650 | 5.2% | $89,190 | $42.88 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 1,520 | 3.0% | $97,880 | $47.06 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction NAICS 237300 | 1,140 | 2.2% | $81,100 | $38.99 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors NAICS 238900 | 900 | 1.8% | $68,520 | $32.94 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (50,830). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $61,600 for surveyors in May 2021 and $75,440 in May 2025, with employment of 46,390 and 50,830.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $61,600 | $29.62 | 46,390 |
| May 2022 | $63,080 | $30.33 | 47,770 |
| May 2023 | $68,540 | $32.95 | 50,740 |
| May 2024 | $72,740 | $34.97 | 53,080 |
| May 2025 | $75,440 | $36.27 | 50,830 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
50 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $50.64 | $105,330 | $59,310 | $160,430 | 4,520 | 0.25 | 0.76 |
| 2 | Alaska profile | $47.86 | $99,550 | $73,520 | $142,980 | 250 | 0.77 | 2.35 |
| 3 | Oregon profile | $46.67 | $97,070 | $64,880 | $131,040 | 530 | 0.27 | 0.82 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $45.48 | $94,590 | $57,880 | $129,410 | 1,290 | 0.36 | 1.09 |
| 5 | Washington profile | $41.16 | $85,610 | $63,860 | $134,620 | 780 | 0.22 | 0.67 |
| 6 | Montana profile | $40.68 | $84,610 | $57,720 | $120,370 | 350 | 0.68 | 2.06 |
| 7 | Minnesota profile | $40.20 | $83,620 | $49,510 | $125,040 | 980 | 0.33 | 1.02 |
| 8 | Maine profile | $40.00 | $83,200 | $56,110 | $131,890 | 270 | 0.43 | 1.31 |
| 9 | Delaware profile | $39.85 | $82,890 | $63,200 | $126,600 | 120 | 0.25 | 0.75 |
| 10 | Nevada profile | $39.64 | $82,460 | $64,160 | $127,660 | 490 | 0.32 | 0.97 |
| 11 | Hawaii profile | $39.52 | $82,200 | $58,900 | $104,190 | 140 | 0.23 | 0.69 |
| 12 | Wyoming profile | $39.06 | $81,250 | $53,500 | $116,770 | 240 | 0.86 | 2.63 |
| 13 | Indiana profile | $38.71 | $80,510 | $48,260 | $118,760 | 870 | 0.27 | 0.83 |
| 14 | Wisconsin profile | $38.30 | $79,650 | $57,510 | $118,850 | 610 | 0.21 | 0.63 |
| 15 | North Dakota profile | $38.15 | $79,360 | $52,680 | $127,780 | 250 | 0.57 | 1.75 |
| 16 | Colorado profile | $38.13 | $79,310 | $51,220 | $115,990 | 1,620 | 0.56 | 1.72 |
| 17 | New York profile | $37.92 | $78,870 | $53,390 | $126,340 | 1,470 | 0.15 | 0.46 |
| 18 | Arizona profile | $37.26 | $77,490 | $48,940 | $110,950 | 1,360 | 0.42 | 1.28 |
| 19 | South Dakota profile | $37.11 | $77,190 | $59,690 | $122,560 | 180 | 0.40 | 1.21 |
| 20 | New Jersey profile | $37.10 | $77,160 | $58,240 | $132,930 | 900 | 0.21 | 0.64 |
| 21 | Iowa profile | $37.06 | $77,090 | $47,830 | $129,670 | 450 | 0.29 | 0.88 |
| 22 | Connecticut profile | $36.89 | $76,730 | $58,140 | $109,050 | 430 | 0.25 | 0.77 |
| 23 | Vermont profile | $36.75 | $76,450 | $50,640 | $83,860 | ** | ** | ** |
| 24 | Tennessee profile | $36.70 | $76,340 | $48,950 | $114,400 | 920 | 0.28 | 0.86 |
| 25 | North Carolina profile | $36.64 | $76,210 | $46,750 | $128,200 | 1,530 | 0.31 | 0.94 |
| 26 | Illinois profile | $36.53 | $75,980 | $46,540 | $126,300 | 1,710 | 0.28 | 0.86 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania profile | $36.51 | $75,950 | $52,160 | $115,450 | 1,610 | 0.27 | 0.81 |
| 28 | Kansas profile | $36.47 | $75,860 | $50,320 | $100,920 | 350 | 0.24 | 0.75 |
| 29 | New Mexico profile | $35.69 | $74,230 | $42,890 | $101,230 | 290 | 0.33 | 1.01 |
| 30 | Idaho profile | $35.55 | $73,940 | $46,500 | $113,400 | 250 | 0.29 | 0.89 |
| 31 | Utah profile | $35.21 | $73,230 | $45,180 | $106,230 | 650 | 0.37 | 1.14 |
| 32 | Michigan profile | $34.65 | $72,080 | $51,240 | $99,940 | 1,050 | 0.24 | 0.73 |
| 33 | Kentucky profile | $34.54 | $71,840 | $39,000 | $101,330 | 670 | 0.34 | 1.03 |
| 34 | Virginia profile | $34.17 | $71,070 | $50,770 | $109,600 | 1,360 | 0.33 | 1.01 |
| 35 | Ohio profile | $33.95 | $70,620 | $48,600 | $114,440 | 1,300 | 0.24 | 0.72 |
| 36 | Nebraska profile | $32.71 | $68,050 | $51,660 | $103,650 | 430 | 0.42 | 1.29 |
| 37 | Alabama profile | $32.13 | $66,840 | $38,520 | $112,580 | 910 | 0.43 | 1.31 |
| 38 | Florida profile | $31.48 | $65,480 | $46,160 | $121,360 | 4,000 | 0.40 | 1.23 |
| 39 | New Hampshire profile | $31.31 | $65,130 | $58,000 | $93,560 | 280 | 0.41 | 1.27 |
| 40 | Maryland profile | $31.21 | $64,910 | $44,110 | $166,400 | 950 | 0.35 | 1.06 |
| 41 | South Carolina profile | $30.43 | $63,300 | $44,710 | $100,360 | 1,000 | 0.43 | 1.33 |
| 42 | Louisiana profile | $30.36 | $63,140 | $38,810 | $111,790 | 1,460 | 0.75 | 2.30 |
| 43 | Rhode Island profile | $30.13 | $62,670 | $44,130 | $99,270 | 150 | 0.29 | 0.90 |
| 44 | Missouri profile | $29.86 | $62,110 | $42,700 | $101,730 | 830 | 0.28 | 0.86 |
| 45 | West Virginia profile | $29.58 | $61,520 | $37,920 | $100,280 | 630 | 0.90 | 2.76 |
| 46 | Oklahoma profile | $29.47 | $61,300 | $37,510 | $103,270 | 960 | 0.56 | 1.72 |
| 47 | Texas profile | $29.40 | $61,150 | $42,450 | $107,850 | 6,410 | 0.46 | 1.39 |
| 48 | Mississippi profile | $28.23 | $58,720 | $38,840 | $96,460 | 570 | 0.49 | 1.50 |
| 49 | Georgia profile | $27.94 | $58,100 | $44,680 | $105,270 | 1,770 | 0.36 | 1.11 |
| 50 | Arkansas profile | $24.91 | $51,800 | $36,380 | $91,610 | 550 | 0.42 | 1.29 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (17-1020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Architecture and Engineering Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 17-1022 Surveyors.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 17-1022, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 17-1022.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.