Surveyors
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Surveyors in the United States earn a median salary of $75,440 per year — about $36 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 56K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +4%.
AI & Automation Risk
Surveying is a hybrid occupation that combines significant physical fieldwork with digital data processing. While AI and automation (via drones and GIS) are rapidly increasing productivity in the mapping and analysis phases, the core requirements of physical site visits, navigating rugged terrain, and providing legally certified human testimony in court create a substantial barrier to full automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuba City, CABEST VALUE | $133,270 | Above avg (104.2) | $127,858 |
| Redding, CA | $124,160 | Average (100.7) | $123,317 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $128,600 | Above avg (106.7) | $120,559 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $120,000 | Above avg (105.1) | $114,189 |
| Vallejo, CA | $123,590 | Above avg (108.5) | $113,930 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $102,270 | Below avg (90.9) | $112,544 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $111,400 | Average (100.1) | $111,312 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $99,030 | Below avg (89.1) | $111,171 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,060 | Above avg (115.6) | $108,171 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $117,160 | Above avg (110.4) | $106,101 |
| Fresno, CA | $107,230 | Average (102.2) | $104,965 |
| Bellingham, WA | $106,590 | Above avg (103.3) | $103,151 |
| Salem, OR | $102,880 | Above avg (103.6) | $99,258 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $107,700 | Above avg (108.6) | $99,175 |
| Anchorage, AK | $101,820 | Above avg (105.4) | $96,585 |