Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
Internship/residency
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Surveyors work in a technical, measurement-focused profession that combines quantitative skills with careful attention to detail. Nationally, there are about 56,000 surveyors, with projected employment growth of 4.4%. This indicates a steady stream of opportunities supported by roughly 4,000 annual openings. The career typically requires a bachelor’s degree, making it an option for students planning a four-year program as well as career changers ready to complete that level of education. Success in this field draws on a mix of mathematics, computers and information technology, and strong critical and analytical thinking. Being detail oriented and having solid project management and leadership abilities can also be important, as surveyors often work within broader projects. Skills such as writing and reading, science, fine motor abilities, and mechanical aptitude further shape the day-to-day work. For those who enjoy combining quantitative analysis with practical, hands-on skills, surveyor roles can provide a structured, long-term career path, with options to explore related occupations in technical and scientific fields.
Surveyors have a national median annual salary of $72,740, providing a solid earnings baseline across the profession. Pay can vary significantly by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, California stands out with a median salary of $105,330, followed by Massachusetts at $94,590 and Washington at $85,610. New York and Colorado offer median salaries of $78,870 and $79,310, respectively. At the metro level, salaries can be even higher. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area shows a median of $125,060, while San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports $117,160. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area has a median of $94,970, and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ comes in at $83,610. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV offers $74,920. These figures highlight how location choices can significantly affect earnings potential for surveyors.
Surveyors have national employment of about 56,000, with projected employment growth of 4.4%. This growth rate indicates that the field is expected to expand over time rather than contract. In addition to overall growth, the occupation has an estimated 4,000 annual openings nationally. These openings reflect a combination of new positions and turnover in existing roles. The consistent 4.4% projected growth rate appears across the top states and metro areas highlighted by opportunity scores, suggesting a generally similar growth outlook in those leading regions. For people entering the profession, the combination of an existing employment base, measurable projected growth, and a steady number of annual openings points to ongoing hiring needs. Individuals who build strong skills in mathematics, technology, and analytical thinking, alongside the typical educational preparation, can position themselves to take advantage of these opportunities as the field evolves.
Location can make a significant difference for surveyors, both in pay and concentration of jobs. Among the top states by opportunity score, California offers the highest median salary at $105,330, with employment of 4,520 surveyors and projected growth of 4.4%. Massachusetts also shows a strong profile with a median salary of $94,590 and 1,290 employed. Washington, New York, and Colorado present median salaries ranging from about $78,870 to $85,610, with employment between 780 and 1,620. Certain metro areas stand out even more. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA has a median salary of $125,060, while San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports $117,160. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro has 1,300 employed surveyors with a median salary of $83,610. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH shows both a high median salary of $94,970 and employment of 1,070. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro also combines a sizable employment base of 850 with a median salary of $74,920. These differences give surveyors multiple options when weighing salary against location preferences.
Surveyors typically need a bachelor’s degree, making this a profession that usually requires completion of a four-year college program. This level of education supports the technical and analytical demands of the role. The skill profile for surveyors highlights how that education is applied in practice. Core skills include mathematics and science, which underpin measurement, analysis, and problem solving. Competence with computers and information technology is also important, reflecting the tools and systems that surveyors may use. Being detail oriented and having strong critical and analytical thinking skills help with accuracy and decision-making. Project management and leadership can matter when coordinating work within larger efforts. Writing and reading are part of the communication side of the role, while fine motor and mechanical skills support more hands-on aspects. Together, the bachelor’s degree requirement and this mix of abilities define surveyors as professionals who combine academic preparation with practical, applied skills.
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