CareerFacts

All careers › Surveying and Mapping Technicians › California

Land surveyor salary in California

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$78,110median pay per year in California, or $37.55 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $48,000lowest 10% earn less
  2. $61,09025th percentile
  3. $78,110median
  4. $102,77075th percentile
  5. $119,270top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $54,240[3]

The median pay for land surveyors in California was $78,110 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $23,870 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
3,340[4]
Rank by median pay
1 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
+44.0%[6]

How much do land surveyors make in California?

The median means half of land surveyors in California earned more than $78,110 a year and half earned less[1]. That works out to $37.55 an hour[1]. Across the US the median was $54,240[3], so California sat $23,870, or 44.0%, above it[6]. California had the 1st highest median among the 50 states with a published figure[5]. For all jobs in the state the median was $58,240[7], and land surveyors earned $19,870 more than that[8].

At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $48,000 a year[2]. The top 10% earned more than $119,270[2]. The middle half of the pay range ran from $61,090 to $102,770[2].

Among metro areas, San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles had the highest median at $101,270[9]. Among the metros with the largest job counts, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had a median of $92,700[10]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed and owners of unincorporated firms, and it does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[11].

California vs US pay

Pay for land surveyors in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$78,110[1]$54,240[3]
Median per hour$37.55[1]$26.08[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$48,000[2]$37,520[12]
Top 10% earn more than$119,270[2]$81,630[12]
Jobs3,340[4]58,010[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for land surveyors, and the median pay in each[10].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[10]$92,700860
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$78,110440
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$72,230380
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$84,360360
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$81,120250
Fresno, CA$61,720140
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$76,560140
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$71,94060

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for land surveyors in the states that border California, highest first[13].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Nevada[13]$58,790680
Oregon$55,7901,280
Arizona$54,080700

Median pay for land surveyors in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for land surveyors are projected to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035[14]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: high school diploma or equivalent[15].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a land surveyor make in California?
The median pay was $78,110 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $81,840[16].
How much does a land surveyor make an hour in California?
The median was $37.55 an hour[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $23.08 an hour[2][17]. The top 10% earned more than $57.34 an hour[2][17].
Which city in California pays land surveyors the most?
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles had the highest median among metro areas with a published figure, at $101,270 a year[9].
Is California a good state for land surveyors?
California had the 1st highest median for this job among the 50 states with a published figure[5]. Its median was $23,870 higher than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a land surveyor in California?
These are US figures, not California ones. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent for entry, no related work experience, and moderate-term on-the-job training[15].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in California was $78,110 per year and $37.55 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in California: 10th percentile $48,000, 25th percentile $61,090, 75th percentile $102,770, 90th percentile $119,270. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in the US as a whole was $54,240 per year and $26.08 per hour, with about 58,010 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 3,340 people worked as Surveying and Mapping Technicians in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 1st highest median annual wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians out of the 50 states with a published median (the highest of all). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in California ($78,110) was $23,870 (44.0%) higher than the US median ($54,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in California was $19,870 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 16 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Surveying and Mapping Technicians, San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA had the highest median annual wage, $101,270. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in the US: 10th percentile $37,520, 25th percentile $45,430, 75th percentile $66,700, 90th percentile $81,630. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in states that border California (highest first): Nevada $58,790; Oregon $55,790; Arizona $54,080. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Surveying and Mapping Technicians is projected to grow 5.8% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 6,900 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Surveying and Mapping Technicians: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in California was $81,840 per year and $39.34 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in California: 10th percentile $23.08, 25th percentile $29.37, 75th percentile $49.41, 90th percentile $57.34. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.