Surveyors pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $98,240 or more. The middle half of surveyors in Columbia earn between $51,340 and $89,870.
- $46K10th
- $51K25th
- $67KMedian
- $90K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,390 | $5,949 | $34.32 |
| Median | $66,580 | $5,548 | $32.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,340 | $4,278 | $24.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,870 | $7,489 | $43.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surveyors pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Surveyors in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($70,580) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($80,570). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $75,440.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $71,390 | $66,580 | $46,010 | $98,240 | 170 |
| South Carolina | $70,580 | $63,300 | $44,710 | $100,360 | 1,000 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $71,390, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $56,635 a year, or $4,720 a month and $2,178 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for surveyors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $71,390 buys what about $76,221 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Surveyors salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 3rd of 6 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($76,410).
- Charleston$76,410
- Spartanburg$74,860
- Columbia$71,390
- Hilton Head Island$69,290
- Myrtle Beach$69,070
- Greenville$68,040
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 Columbia: questions
How much do surveyors make an hour in Columbia?
$34.32 an hour on average, and $32.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surveyors salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,340, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surveyors take-home pay in Columbia?
About $56,635 a year ($4,720 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,390.
Do surveyors earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.30, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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