How much does a surveyors make?

The median surveyors salary in the United States is $75,440 per year ($36.27/hour). Salaries range from $46,880 (10th percentile) to $125,590 (90th percentile). There are 50,830 surveyors jobs in the U.S. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.

Which state pays surveyorss the most?

The highest paying state for surveyorss is California at $105,330 median salary.

Is surveyors a good career?

Surveyors employment is projected to grow 4.4% from 2024 to 2034 (as fast as average). There are approximately 3,900 job openings per year. Typical education required: Bachelor's degree.

What interview questions are asked for surveyors roles?

Common surveyors interview questions include: "Walk me through how you would perform a boundary survey on a rural parcel with unclear monuments.", "How do you handle a client who wants a boundary decision that conflicts with your professional opinion?", "Describe an ALTA/NSPS survey you performed.". Interview format at top employers ranges from behavioral panels (STAR method) to technical case rounds — for example Regional civil engineering + surveying consulting firms (Kimley-Horn, Stantec, WSP, TRC) typically uses 3-4 rounds over 3-4 weeks.

What certifications should surveyorss get?

Top-ROI certifications for surveyorss: Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam — NCEES ($225 exam + prep material); Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam — NCEES + state exam ($350 NCEES exam + $150-500 state exam + prep); FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification ($175 exam + $200-500 prep).

How do you negotiate a surveyors salary?

Anchor on documented market data (BLS median $75,440, p75 $98,130), specific outcomes you've delivered, and the specific band for your years of experience. With 6 years of experience, LSIT + FS passed and PS exam scheduled in 8 months, Trimble R12i GNSS + Civil 3D + FAA Part 107 drone certified, and 42 boundary surveys plus 68 construction stakeouts delivered last year, ma...

Surveyors Salary

Q: What is the career ladder for surveyorss?

The typical surveyors career ladder: Survey Technician / Rodperson (Entry) (0-3 yrs, $42-58k + overtime) → Party Chief / LSIT (3-8 yrs, $58-82k + overtime + LSIT premium) → Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) / Project Surveyor (5-15 yrs, $85-125k + benefits + PE-license bonus at consulting firms) → Survey Manager / Principal / Practice Owner (12+ yrs, $115-175k+ + performance bonus + equity in a practice).

The median surveyors salary in the United States is $75,440 per year ($36.27/hour). Salaries range from $46,880 at the entry level to $125,590+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 50,830 surveyors jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 4.4% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asSurveyorLand Surveyor

Median Salary

$75,440

per year

Hourly Rate

$36.27

per hour

Employment

50,830

jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile

$46,880

25th percentile

$58,170

Median

$75,440

75th percentile

$98,130

90th percentile

$125,590

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+4.4%

As fast as average

Annual Openings

3,900

jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Bachelor's degree

Training Needed

Internship/residency

Surveyors Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for surveyorss.

Land surveyors establish boundaries, layout points for construction, map topography, produce ALTA/NSPS surveys for real estate, and deliver as-built surveys for infrastructure. The work spans field (total station, GPS/GNSS, drones, lidar) and office (CAD, GIS, deed research). Licensure (PLS / RLS / LSIT) is the credential ladder that drives pay. Party chief $52-72k; Sr surveyor / LSIT $68-92k; Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) $85-125k; Survey Manager / Principal $115-175k+. Consulting firms and public sector both hire; oil & gas surveying and hydrographic (marine) survey command 20-30% premium.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Total station & GNSS operation

Trimble, Leica, Topcon robotic total stations and RTK GNSS rovers. Set control, run resection, and collect topo and boundary data. Modern crews are often one-person robotic operations.

Boundary determination & deed research

Read chains of title, prior deeds, and record plats. Reconcile record calls with found monuments. Boundary law and evidence rules are the intellectual core of the profession.

CAD & mapping (Civil 3D, MicroStation, Carlson, TBC)

Draft boundary maps, topographic surveys, subdivision plats, and construction stakeout data. Trimble Business Center for GNSS processing.

GIS & lidar

ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, and lidar classification / point cloud processing. Modern survey integrates with GIS deliverables for asset management and municipal work.

ALTA/NSPS surveys & land title work

Real estate boundary surveys to the ALTA/NSPS 2021 minimum standards. Encroachment analysis, easement location, and title report reconciliation.

Construction stakeout & as-builts

Provide layout data for site work, structures, utilities, and roads. Verify as-built conformance to plans with tight tolerances.

Public land survey system (PLSS) & metes and bounds

Understand the PLSS grid system (townships, sections, aliquot parts) for western state surveys and the metes-and-bounds tradition for eastern states.

How to Become a Surveyors

1
Earn a bachelor's degree in surveying, geomatics, or civil engineering (increasingly required for licensure)
Common programs: Ferris State, Oregon Tech, University of Maine, Purdue, New Mexico State. Most states now require a 4-year degree to sit for the PLS exam, with grandfathering for experienced survey techs.
2
Start as a survey technician or rodperson
$42-52k. Learn field procedures under a Party Chief, then progress to Instrument Operator. Common employers: engineering consulting firms, DOTs, county surveyor offices, oil & gas surveying firms.
3
Advance to Party Chief
$52-72k. Run your own crew, own control setup, and deliver clean field data. Start office work — CAD drafting and deed research — to prepare for licensure.
4
Sit for FS (Fundamentals of Surveying) exam and become LSIT
The FS is the entry-level national exam through NCEES. Passing makes you a Land Surveyor in Training (LSIT). Then 2-4 years of professional experience under a PLS to sit for the PS (Principles and Practice of Surveying) exam plus state-specific.
5
Earn PLS licensure and advance to project/office roles
PLS unlocks project sign-off authority. Advance to Survey Manager, Principal, or launch a practice. Some experienced PLSs go into expert witness work, court testimony, and boundary litigation.

Career Progression

Survey Technician / Rodperson (Entry)

0-3 yrs$42-58k + overtime

•Assist Party Chief in the field — set control, hold rod, run instrument
•Learn total station and GNSS operation
•Basic CAD drafting under senior review
•Study for FS exam

Next: Instrument Operator / Party Chief at 3-5 years.

Party Chief / LSIT

3-8 yrs$58-82k + overtime + LSIT premium

•Run field crew of 1-3 techs independently
•Set control, collect topo and boundary data, and manage field notes
•Draft survey work in CAD; conduct deed research
•Study for PS exam

Next: Professional Land Surveyor at 5-10 years.

Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) / Project Surveyor

5-15 yrs$85-125k + benefits + PE-license bonus at consulting firms

•Own boundary determinations, ALTA/NSPS surveys, and project sign-off
•Interface with clients, attorneys, and municipalities
•Supervise 1-3 LSITs and technicians
•Serve as expert on litigation and boundary disputes

Next: Survey Manager or Principal at 10-18 years.

Survey Manager / Principal / Practice Owner

12+ yrs$115-175k+ + performance bonus + equity in a practice

•Lead a survey department or a practice (10-40 staff)
•Own P&L, business development, and client relationships
•Guide firm's technology investments (drones, lidar, GIS integration)
•Serve as principal PLS on major projects and expert witness engagements

Next: Regional Director, Vice President, or firm ownership.

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through how you would perform a boundary survey on a rural parcel with unclear monuments.technical

Start with deed research — the subject deed, all abutter deeds, and any recorded plats. Note dimensions, calls, and monument descriptions. Field recon to locate any found monuments (iron pins, stones, fence corners, witness trees). Set control with GNSS or total station. Collect the found monuments and topo of relevant features. Perform a mathematical closure. Reconcile record calls with field evidence — resolve conflicts using the hierarchy (senior deed, monuments, courses/distances, area). Set new monuments per the boundary decision. Prepare a boundary map and deed description. Interviewers screen for evidence hierarchy fluency and defensibility.

Q2. How do you handle a client who wants a boundary decision that conflicts with your professional opinion?situational

The PLS owns the boundary determination — the client doesn't. Explain your reasoning carefully, showing the evidence and the state's boundary law hierarchy. If the client wants to challenge, offer a title company or attorney conference to review. Never sign a plat with a boundary you don't believe is correct — your license is on the line. If the client insists, decline the work in writing. Boundary determinations that turn out wrong 5 years later cost surveyors their license and their liability.

Q3. Describe an ALTA/NSPS survey you performed.technical

STAR with detail. Situation: 42-acre commercial property being acquired, purchase agreement conditioned on ALTA. Task: your role. Action: Table A optional items reviewed with client, title commitment received, deed and plat research completed, field recon and control set, boundary and improvements collected including all easements from Schedule B, encroachment analysis, and delivery of the map with certification. Result: closed on schedule; two minor title exceptions cleared based on the survey's findings. Interviewers want to hear ALTA-specific fluency, not general surveying.

Q4. Why surveying and not civil engineering?culture

The honest answer that lands: you like the mix of field work, boundary law, and CAD/GIS technology. You want a licensed profession where every project ends with a legally defensible product. Surveying is one of the few professions where you're required to physically visit the land you're documenting. Avoid saying 'I don't want to design buildings' as the only reason. Name a specific PLS, project, or land-boundary interest that shaped the choice.

Q5. Where do you see your career in 5 years?closer

Show the tracks: PLS with a specialty (boundary, construction layout, ALTA, hydrographic, oil & gas), Survey Manager, or firm ownership. Say which you're leaning toward and why. Naming a specialty (drone/UAS certification, lidar processing, hydrographic specialty) signals concrete depth.

Resume Template — Party Chief / LSIT (3-8 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Party Chief / LSIT (3-8 yrs)

▸Party Chief for a 3-person crew at a regional engineering consulting firm; delivered 42 boundary surveys and 68 construction stakeout projects in FY24.
▸LSIT + FS passed; on track to sit for PS exam within 12 months.
▸Fluent in Civil 3D, Trimble TBC, and Trimble R12i GNSS; drone operator (Part 107) for aerial mapping.
▸$68k base + $6k overtime + $2k LSIT premium + vehicle + full benefits.

What Gets You Rejected

✗No plan for the FS or PS exams — the field runs on licensure ladders.
✗Weak boundary law knowledge — cannot articulate the evidence hierarchy or key state cases.
✗Careless field practice — poor control, sloppy notes, or missing checks cost the firm on QA.
✗No CAD or GIS proficiency — every modern survey deliverable is digital.
✗Cannot read a chain of title or interpret a subdivision plat without significant hand-holding.
✗Poor client communication — surveying is a client-facing profession with attorneys, municipalities, and property owners.
✗Any recent driving-record issues — company vehicles and field travel are core to the job.

Salary Negotiation Levers

✓LSIT and PLS credentials drive pay: LSIT typically $3-6k premium, PLS $15-30k premium plus signature authority.
✓FAA Part 107 drone certification and lidar processing skills add $3-8k in firms with UAS practices.
✓Hydrographic (marine) surveying commands 20-30% premium and specialty certifications.
✓Oil & gas surveying pays 25-40% above general commercial in Texas, North Dakota, and Alaska.
✓Metro cost-of-living (SF, NYC, Boston, DC) commands 15-25% premium.
✓Sign-on bonuses of $3,000-15,000 are common at consulting firms short on licensed surveyors.
✓Ownership equity — PLS ownership stakes in engineering firms are the long-term wealth driver in this profession.

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Personalized resume review from someone who has hired surveyorss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

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Surveyors Career Kit — $19

✓ All 13 interview questions with expert answers
✓ 6 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
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✓ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
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Surveyors Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →

Salary Map — Click a state for details

$52K

$105K■ No data

Top Paying States

Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.

State	Median	vs. National	Employment
California	$105,330	+39.6%	4,520
Alaska	$99,550	+32.0%	250
Oregon	$97,070	+28.7%	530
Massachusetts	$94,590	+25.4%	1,290
Washington	$85,610	+13.5%	780
Montana	$84,610	+12.2%	350
Minnesota	$83,620	+10.8%	980
Maine	$83,200	+10.3%	270
Delaware	$82,890	+9.9%	120
Nevada	$82,460	+9.3%	490

Showing 1–10 of 50

Surveyors Salary by Metro Area

Metro Area	Median	vs. National
Yuba City, CA	$133,270	+76.7%
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$128,600	+70.5%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$125,060	+65.8%
Redding, CA	$124,160	+64.6%
Vallejo, CA	$123,590	+63.8%
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$120,000	+59.1%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$117,160	+55.3%
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$111,400	+47.7%
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$107,700	+42.8%
Fresno, CA	$107,230	+42.1%

Showing 1–10 of 215

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.

How does this compare to pro athletes?

A surveyors earning $75,440/year would need 790 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 848 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.

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📈 See how surveyors salaries have changed over the past decade.

View Surveyors salary trend (2011–2024) →