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Land surveyor salary in North Carolina
- $37,710lowest 10% earn less
- $45,74025th percentile
- $53,160median
- $62,73075th percentile
- $76,420top 10% earn more
The median pay for land surveyors in North Carolina was $53,160 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $1,080 lower than the US median[6].
How much do land surveyors make in North Carolina?
The median means half of land surveyors in North Carolina earned more than $53,160 a year and half earned less[1]. That works out to $25.56 an hour[1]. Across the US the median was $54,240[3], so North Carolina sat $1,080, or 2.0%, below it[6]. North Carolina had the 32nd highest median among the 50 states with a published figure[5]. For all jobs in the state the median was $47,970[7], and land surveyors earned $5,190 more than that[8].
At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,710 a year[2]. The top 10% earned more than $76,420[2]. The middle half of the pay range ran from $45,740 to $62,730[2].
Among metro areas, Durham-Chapel Hill had the highest median at $62,420[9]. Among the metros with the largest job counts, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia had a median of $58,480[10] and Raleigh-Cary had $49,150[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].
North Carolina vs US pay
Pay for land surveyors in North Carolina next to the national figures[1][3].
Pay by metro area in North Carolina
Metro areas in North Carolina with the most jobs for land surveyors, and the median pay in each[10]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.
| Metro area | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC[10] | $58,480 | 1,120 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $49,150 | 1,120 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $57,760 | 500 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $62,420 | 370 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $56,910 | 270 |
| Wilmington, NC | $50,670 | 210 |
| Asheville, NC | $52,400 | 150 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $58,280 | 80 |
Pay in nearby states
Median pay for land surveyors in the states that border North Carolina, highest first[13].
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia[13] | $56,760 | 2,440 |
| Tennessee | $50,370 | 1,340 |
| Georgia | $48,810 | 1,890 |
| South Carolina | $43,740 | 1,420 |
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].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a land surveyor make in North Carolina?
- The median pay was $53,160 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $55,410[16].
- How much does a land surveyor make an hour in North Carolina?
- The median was $25.56 an hour[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $18.13 an hour[2][17]. The top 10% earned more than $36.74 an hour[2][17].
- Which city in North Carolina pays land surveyors the most?
- Durham-Chapel Hill had the highest median among metro areas with a published figure, at $62,420 a year[9].
- Is North Carolina a good state for land surveyors?
- North Carolina had the 32nd highest median for this job among the 50 states with a published figure[5]. Its median was $1,080 lower than the US median[6].
- What do you need to become a land surveyor in North Carolina?
- These are US figures, not North Carolina 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
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in North Carolina was $53,160 per year and $25.56 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in North Carolina: 10th percentile $37,710, 25th percentile $45,740, 75th percentile $62,730, 90th percentile $76,420. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 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
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 4,100 people worked as Surveying and Mapping Technicians in North Carolina (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: North Carolina had the 32nd highest median annual wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians out of the 50 states with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in North Carolina ($53,160) was $1,080 (2.0%) lower than the US median ($54,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in North Carolina was $47,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in North Carolina was $5,190 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 13 metro areas in or partly in North Carolina with a published median for Surveying and Mapping Technicians, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC had the highest median annual wage, $62,420. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 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
- 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
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in states that border North Carolina (highest first): Virginia $56,760; Tennessee $50,370; Georgia $48,810; South Carolina $43,740. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 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
- 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
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in North Carolina was $55,410 per year and $26.64 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Surveying and Mapping Technicians in North Carolina: 10th percentile $18.13, 25th percentile $21.99, 75th percentile $30.16, 90th percentile $36.74. BLS OEWS, May 2025