SOC 17-1022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Surveyors — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
In California the median wage for Surveyors reaches $105,330 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In California the median wage for Surveyors reaches $105,330 a year. That is 39.6% more than the national median of $75,440. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $78,500 and $134,250. The lowest tenth earn under $59,310, while the highest tenth earn more than $160,430.
The area has 4,520 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.76 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, California ranks 1st by median wage. Yuba City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $133,270. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 181st of 793 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,310 | −21.4% |
| 25th | $78,500 | +4.1% |
| Median (50th) | $105,330 | +39.6% |
| 75th | $134,250 | +78.0% |
| 90th | $160,430 | +112.7% |
| Mean | $110,220 | +46.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuba City | $133,270 | 50 | |
| 2 | Sacramento | $128,600 | 370 | |
| 3 | San Francisco | $125,060 | 630 | |
| 4 | Redding | $124,160 | 40 | |
| 5 | Vallejo | $123,590 | 50 | |
| 6 | Stockton | $120,000 | 40 | |
| 7 | San Jose | $117,160 | 170 | |
| 8 | San Luis Obispo | $107,700 | 80 | |
| 9 | Fresno | $107,230 | 190 | |
| 10 | San Diego | $102,210 | 430 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $105,330 buys what $95,149 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 26.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$105,330as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$95,149US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $105,330 a year, 39.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $59,310 to $160,430 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 4,520 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 1st of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Yuba City, at $133,270.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Surveyors in California?
The median annual wage is $105,330, or $50.64 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $75,440, so pay in California is 39.6% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $160,430 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $59,310 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Yuba City, at $133,270 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 4,520 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data