Surveyors pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $151,730 or more. The middle half of surveyors in San Diego earn between $83,260 and $130,450.
- $60K10th
- $83K25th
- $102KMedian
- $130K75th
- $152K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $108,630 | $9,052 | $52.23 |
| Median | $102,210 | $8,518 | $49.14 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,260 | $6,938 | $40.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $130,450 | $10,871 | $62.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surveyors pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Surveyors in San Diego earn about the same as the California average ($110,220) and 35% more than the U.S. average ($80,570). At the median the gap is +35% against the U.S. median of $75,440.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $108,630 | $102,210 | $59,750 | $151,730 | 430 |
| California | $110,220 | $105,330 | $59,310 | $160,430 | 4,520 |
| United States | $80,570 | $75,440 | $46,880 | $125,590 | 50,830 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Surveyors salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $108,630, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $79,241 a year, or $6,603 a month and $3,048 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for surveyors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $108,630 buys what about $97,089 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 8.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Surveyors salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 10th of 18 California metro areas for this job; Yuba City pays the most ($127,690).
- Yuba City$127,690
- San Francisco$126,380
- Redding$124,490
- Sacramento$120,210
- Stockton$118,870
- Vallejo$117,030
- San Jose$116,770
- San Luis Obispo$111,600
- Fresno$110,060
- San Diego$108,630
Highest-paying cities for surveyors
Yuba City, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($127,690).
- Yuba City, CA$127,690
- San Francisco, CA$126,380
- Redding, CA$124,490
- Sacramento, CA$120,210
- Stockton, CA$118,870
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Surveyors salary in San Diego: questions
How much do surveyors make an hour in San Diego?
$52.23 an hour on average, and $49.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surveyors salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surveyors take-home pay in San Diego?
About $79,241 a year ($6,603 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $108,630. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do surveyors earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 35% more than the U.S. average for this job ($80,570).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-1022; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.85, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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