Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Land Surveyor Salary in the United States

How much does a Land Surveyor make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Land Surveyor in the United States is $62,874 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

However, a Land Surveyor's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $76,075
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $55,436 to $69,784
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $48,664
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Land Surveyor Salaries

A Land Surveyor's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Land Surveyor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Land Surveyor's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Land Surveyor (2-4 years): $62,874
  • Senior Land Surveyor (4-7 years): $77,288
  • Land Surveyor Supervisor (7+ years): $73,370
  • Land Surveyor Manager (7+ years): $107,256
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Land Surveyor2-4 years$62,874
Senior Land Surveyor4-7 years$77,288
Land Surveyor Supervisor7+ years$73,370
Land Surveyor Manager7+ years$107,256
View as Graph

How Do Land Surveyor Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Land Surveyors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $69,614.
  • California: $69,350.
  • Massachusetts: $68,426.

Top Paying Cities for Land Surveyors

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $79,303
  • San Francisco: $78,435
  • Oakland: $76,782

What Skills Can Increase a Land Surveyor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Consulting (Mentioned in 2.72% Job Postings): Providing technical or business expertise and advice to internal or external clients.
  • CAD (Mentioned in 3.03% Job Postings): Computer-aided design is the use of computers to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.44% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Skills Demand Percentage
Consulting 2.72%
CAD 3.03%
Microsoft Office 1.44%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Land Surveyor's salary.

  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Public Works: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management $65,389
4%
Public Works $65,389
4%
Innovation $65,389
4%
Get Latest Data

Land Surveyor Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Land Surveyor salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $70,264. While startup companies pay approximate $59,436.

Land Surveyor Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $59,436
Growth Stage 51~500 $62,860
Established 501~5000 $67,849
Enterprise 5000+ $70,264

Land Surveyor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Land Surveyor roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 31% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 16% above the average. In contrast, Land Surveyor positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Chemicals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Land Surveyor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Land Surveyor

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$72,934$35.016%
Biotechnology$70,419$34.012%
Energy & Utilities$70,419$34.012%
Pharmaceuticals$67,904$33.08%
Construction$66,018$32.05%

How Education impacts a Land Surveyor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Land Surveyor enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Land Surveyor with a Bachelor's Degree is between $72,981 and $79,371.

Land Surveyor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Land Surveyor
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.4%
High School 46.3%
Associates 29.3%
Bachelors 22.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Land Surveyor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Land Surveyor's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$55,436
Average $62,874/year
$69,784
$4,620
Average $5,240/month
$5,815
$1,066
Average $1,209/week
$1,342
$27
Average $30/hour
$34
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $69,784 $5,815 $1,342 $34
Average $62,874 $5,240 $1,209 $30
25th Percentile $55,436 $4,620 $1,066 $27

Land Surveyor Salary Growth & Career Path

Land Surveyor

Next Role

Advancement

For a Land Surveyor, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Senior Land Surveyor role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $77,288 - a projected growth of 23% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Land Surveyor

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Land Surveyor

Here are companies hiring for Land Surveyor and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Land Surveyor Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Land Surveyor job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Land Surveyor

1. Where can a Land Surveyor earn the most?

A Land Surveyor's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Land Surveyor earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Land Surveyor is $79,303.

2. What is the highest pay for Land Surveyor?

The highest pay for Land Surveyor is $76,075.

3. What is the lowest pay for Land Surveyor?

The lowest pay for Land Surveyor is $48,664.

4. What are the responsibilities of Land Surveyor?

Collects field data by using surveying equipment and software. Surveys and investigates land surfaces to determine precise measurement and location of lines, angles, points, areas, and elevations. Uses reports, maps, drawings, engineering plans, and aerial photographs to assess project needs and assists in project approach. Performs project research and boundary calculations. Recommends new approaches and ideas that improve efficiency. May require a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Land Surveyor?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Land Surveyor roles, with salaries approximately 16% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst