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Survey engineer salary
Average survey engineer salary
$47,960
Understanding Survey Engineer Salaries
The role of a Survey Engineer is critical in various sectors, particularly in construction and land development. As of October 2025, the average salary for a survey engineer is approximately $47,960 annually, or around $23 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific industry.
For instance, survey engineers in states like California and New York tend to earn higher wages due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. Entry-level positions typically start lower, while those with advanced experience can command salaries that exceed $70,000.
In addition to geographical disparities, the salary can also differ across various roles within the field. Survey engineers specializing in high-demand areas, such as geospatial technology or environmental surveying, may find lucrative opportunities. Understanding these dynamics is essential for job seekers aiming to navigate their career paths effectively.
Salary Insights by Experience Level
Experience plays a significant role in determining salary, with entry-level positions earning around $40,000, while seasoned professionals can earn upwards of $60,000 or more.
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Where can a Survey Engineer earn more?
Survey engineer salaries by experience level
Survey engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average survey engineer salary by state
The average survey engineer salary in Florida, California, and Alabama are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average survey engineer salary states are New Hampshire, Nebraska, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for survey engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $66,854 | $32.14 |
| 2 | Florida | $72,789 | $34.99 |
| 3 | Texas | $56,856 | $27.33 |
| 4 | Delaware | $55,785 | $26.82 |
| 5 | Alabama | $59,093 | $28.41 |
| 6 | Virginia | $55,539 | $26.70 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $59,091 | $28.41 |
| 8 | Arizona | $51,719 | $24.86 |
| 9 | Nevada | $53,319 | $25.63 |
| 10 | New York | $57,336 | $27.57 |
| 11 | Oregon | $52,214 | $25.10 |
| 12 | Alaska | $54,019 | $25.97 |
| 13 | Mississippi | $56,187 | $27.01 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $53,379 | $25.66 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $51,334 | $24.68 |
| 16 | Maryland | $51,945 | $24.97 |
| 17 | Washington | $49,655 | $23.87 |
| 18 | Colorado | $49,797 | $23.94 |
| 19 | Utah | $49,444 | $23.77 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $53,253 | $25.60 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $54,310 | $26.11 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $49,859 | $23.97 |
| 23 | Georgia | $49,168 | $23.64 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $49,463 | $23.78 |
| 25 | Missouri | $50,522 | $24.29 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $50,374 | $24.22 |
| 27 | Idaho | $47,109 | $22.65 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $46,323 | $22.27 |
| 29 | Ohio | $46,789 | $22.49 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $46,951 | $22.57 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $47,541 | $22.86 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $47,790 | $22.98 |
| 33 | Michigan | $44,573 | $21.43 |
| 34 | Montana | $43,096 | $20.72 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $42,559 | $20.46 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $45,551 | $21.90 |
| 37 | Indiana | $43,672 | $21.00 |
| 38 | Massachusetts | $43,554 | $20.94 |
| 39 | Maine | $39,407 | $18.95 |
| 40 | Rhode Island | $44,175 | $21.24 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $37,897 | $18.22 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $38,879 | $18.69 |
| 43 | Vermont | $39,722 | $19.10 |
| 44 | Illinois | $41,546 | $19.97 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $41,792 | $20.09 |
| 46 | Kansas | $42,527 | $20.45 |
| 47 | Iowa | $38,421 | $18.47 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $41,111 | $19.76 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $37,386 | $17.97 |
| 50 | New Hampshire | $38,948 | $18.73 |
| 51 | Wisconsin | $37,676 | $18.11 |
Highest paying cities for survey engineers
The highest-paying cities for survey engineers are Sunrise, FL, San Luis Obispo, CA, and New Orleans, LA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunrise, FL | $74,743 | $35.93 |
| 2 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $68,268 | $32.82 |
| 3 | New Orleans, LA | $60,154 | $28.92 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $58,876 | $28.31 |
| 5 | Salem, OR | $52,382 | $25.18 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $52,059 | $25.03 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $49,775 | $23.93 |
| 8 | Santa Fe, NM | $49,121 | $23.62 |
| 9 | Plymouth, MA | $44,723 | $21.50 |
| 10 | Pontiac, MI | $44,588 | $21.44 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $43,596 | $20.96 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $41,648 | $20.02 |
| 13 | Milwaukee, WI | $37,840 | $18.19 |
Survey engineer salary details
A survey engineer's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $71,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a survey engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| Average | $47,960 | $3,997 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
Highest paying survey engineer jobs
The highest paying types of survey engineers are resident engineer, senior structural engineer, and engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Designer | $58,421 | $4,868 | $28.09 | 57,036 |
| Civil Engineering Internship | $52,597 | $4,383 | $25.29 | 109,733 |
| Structural Designer | $63,273 | $5,273 | $30.42 | 51,432 |
| Land Surveyor | $46,182 | $3,848 | $22.20 | 4,717 |
| Structural Engineering Internship | $47,072 | $3,923 | $22.63 | 105,826 |
| Survey Party Chief | $45,923 | $3,827 | $22.08 | 15,901 |
Top companies hiring survey engineers now:
Which companies pay survey engineers the most?
Survey engineer salaries at Aviat Networks and Intertek are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average survey engineer salary at companies like HNTB and Dawson are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aviat Networks | $75,807 | $36.45 |
| 2 | Intertek | $68,394 | $32.88 |
| 3 | HNTB | $68,178 | $32.78 |
| 4 | Dawson | $54,238 | $26.08 |
| 5 | Centrica | $50,850 | $24.45 |
| 6 | *n/a* | $50,127 | $24.10 |
| 7 | Maryland Transportation Authority | $46,225 | $22.22 |
| 8 | City of San Luis Obispo | $41,556 | $19.98 |
| 9 | NC.gov | $38,481 | $18.50 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Survey Engineer salary by industry
The average survey engineer salary varies across industries:
- The average survey engineer salary in the energy industry is $76,070, the highest of any industry.
- The average survey engineer salary in the finance industry is $66,401.
- Survey engineers in the transportation industry earn an average salary of $50,038, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for survey engineers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $76,070 | $36.57 |
| 2 | Professional | $66,401 | $31.92 |
| 3 | Construction | $62,410 | $30.00 |
| 4 | Transportation | $50,038 | $24.06 |
High paying survey engineer jobs
Survey engineer salary trends
The average survey engineer salary has risen by $5,729 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average survey engineer earned $42,231 annually, but today, they earn $47,960 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for survey engineers over the last decade.
Compare survey engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average survey engineer salary over time
Compare survey engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Survey engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,000 | $23.06 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $47,100 | $22.66 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $46,900 | $22.56 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $45,900 | $22.07 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $45,200 | $21.75 | +1.6% |
Recently added survey engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SRI Telecom | OSP Planning & Survey Engineer | Las Vegas, NV | 06/01/2025 | $58,436 |
| Calportland | Mining & Surveying Engineer Co-Op (12542) | Ione, CA | 03/06/2025 | $45,914 |
| Hamilton Barnes Limited | 5 DEC Field Survey Engineer-ISP Day Rate TBC (With View To Permanent Employment There | Noank, CT | 02/17/2025 | $43,573 |
| City of Atlanta | DWM Engineering Services-Surveyor I | Atlanta, GA | 01/26/2025 | $42,583 |
| Voceer | Engineer Surveyor | Kent, WA | 12/10/2024 | $50,773 |
| Hamilton Barnes Limited | Field Survey Engineer-ISP | San Francisco, CA | 12/06/2024 | $90,000 |
| GMF Steel Group | Surveying Engineer | Lakeland, FL | 10/14/2024 | $60,000 |
| Bureau Veritas Group | Pressure Engineer Surveyor-Perth/Stirling | Galloway, NJ | 09/26/2024 | $59,249 |
| Voceer | Engineer Surveyor | Kent, WA | 09/26/2024 | $53,228 |
| Astound Broadband, LLC | Site Survey Engineer I or II | Concord, CA | 09/24/2024 | $56,349 |
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