Surveyor salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Surveyors in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $117,160 a year ($56.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $162,580 for the top 10%. That is 55% higher than the national median of $75,440. Pay here is 11% higher than the California statewide median of $105,330. There are 0.15 surveyors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.46). The average (mean) salary is $116,770, close to the median.
Pay range for surveyors in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,200 | $35.68 |
| 25th percentile | $84,060 | $40.41 |
| Median | $117,160 | $56.33 |
| 75th percentile | $138,750 | $66.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $162,580 | $78.17 |
| Average (mean) | $116,770 | $56.14 |
Half of surveyors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,763.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,881.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,506.15 |
| Weekly | $2,253.08 |
| Hourly | $56.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $117,160 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Surveyor salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Yuba City, CA | $133,270 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $128,600 | 370 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,060 | 630 |
| Redding, CA | $124,160 | 40 |
| Vallejo, CA | $123,590 | 50 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $120,000 | 40 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $107,700 | 80 |
| Fresno, CA | $107,230 | 190 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $102,210 | 430 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $101,950 | 970 |
| Salinas, CA | $101,120 | 40 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $100,930 | 100 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $100,920 | 130 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $100,510 | 480 |
| Modesto, CA | $99,270 | 60 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $98,810 | 80 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $88,050 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for surveyors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $105,330 |
| Alaska | $99,550 |
| Oregon | $97,070 |
| Massachusetts | $94,590 |
| Washington | $85,610 |
| Montana | $84,610 |
| Minnesota | $83,620 |
| Maine | $83,200 |
| Delaware | $82,890 |
| Nevada | $82,460 |
See Surveyor pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $129,640 | $62.33 |
| Landscape Architect | $119,910 | $57.65 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $209,860 | $100.89 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $194,370 | $93.45 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $168,030 | $80.79 |
| Engineers, All Other | $169,650 | $81.56 |
| Industrial Engineer | $136,950 | $65.84 |
| Electrical Engineer | $187,060 | $89.93 |
| Civil Engineer | $130,280 | $62.64 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $95,280 | $45.81 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $90,660 | $43.59 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $181,630 | $87.32 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $82,820 | $39.82 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $84,670 | $40.71 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-1022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a surveyor make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for surveyors in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $117,160 a year, or $56.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $162,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid surveyors make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of surveyors in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $162,580 a year. The top 25% earn $138,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for surveyors in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,200 a year, and a quarter of surveyors earn $84,060 or less.
How many surveyors work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 170 surveyors are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.