Surveyors Salary in California
Surveyors in California earn a median annual wage of $105,330 —39.6% above the national median of $75,440. That ranks CA #1 of 50 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment is only 0.76× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in California.
Highest-paying states for surveyors
All 50 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $105,330 | $50.64 | 4,520 | 0.76 |
| 2 | Alaska | $99,550 | $47.86 | 250 | 2.35 |
| 3 | Oregon | $97,070 | $46.67 | 530 | 0.82 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $94,590 | $45.48 | 1,290 | 1.09 |
| 5 | Washington | $85,610 | $41.16 | 780 | 0.67 |
| 6 | Montana | $84,610 | $40.68 | 350 | 2.06 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $83,620 | $40.20 | 980 | 1.02 |
| 8 | Maine | $83,200 | $40.00 | 270 | 1.31 |
| 9 | Delaware | $82,890 | $39.85 | 120 | 0.75 |
| 10 | Nevada | $82,460 | $39.64 | 490 | 0.97 |
Related occupations in California
Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.
| Occupation | California median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineers | $122,500 | $100,840 |
| Industrial Engineers | $124,600 | $102,440 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $130,900 | $104,110 |
| Electrical Engineers | $144,040 | $120,630 |
| Engineers, All Other | $130,850 | $122,930 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $108,540 | $99,280 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do surveyors make in California?
The median annual wage for surveyors in California is $105,330, or $50.64 per hour. That is 39.6% above the national median of $75,440.
What is the entry-level surveyors salary in California?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $59,310 per year ($28.52/hour). The 25th percentile is $78,500.
How many people work as surveyors in California?
About 4,520 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is California a good state for surveyors?
California ranks #1 of 50 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.76x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in California.
Which state pays surveyors the most?
California has the highest median wage at $105,330 per year, followed by Alaska ($99,550) and Oregon ($97,070).