Surveying and Mapping Technicians Salary
The median pay for a surveying and mapping technicians in Auburn-Opelika, AL is $56,320/year ($27.08/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.93), which stretches that salary to about $64,051 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $995/month, or 26.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $56K get you in Auburn-Opelika?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Auburn-Opelika’s Regional Price Parity (87.93). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About surveying and mapping technicians
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What this looks like in Auburn-Opelika
Surveying and mapping technicians pay in Auburn-Opelika tracks closely to the national median, $56K locally vs. $54K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $995/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.93 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for surveying and mapping technicians in metros near Auburn-Opelika, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $48K | $52K |
| Huntsville | $47K | $51K |
| Mobile | $45K | $51K |
| Montgomery | $46K | $51K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Auburn-Opelika, AL
Entry-level surveying and mapping technicians (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Surveying and Mapping Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Surveying and Mapping Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $78K | +44% | 3,340 |
| Alaska | $77K | +42% | 300 |
| Minnesota | $73K | +35% | 1,060 |
| Washington | $63K | +16% | 1,030 |
| Maryland | $62K | +14% | 470 |
| North Dakota | $61K | +12% | 160 |
| New Jersey | $61K | +12% | 750 |
| Ohio | $60K | +11% | 1,350 |
| Montana | $60K | +11% | 430 |
| Rhode Island | $60K | +11% | 110 |
| Utah | $60K | +10% | 360 |
| Wisconsin | $59K | +9% | 660 |
| Iowa | $59K | +9% | 390 |
| Connecticut | $59K | +9% | 380 |
| Nevada | $59K | +8% | 680 |
| Massachusetts | $59K | +8% | 640 |
| Pennsylvania | $58K | +7% | 1,340 |
| Wyoming | $58K | +7% | 150 |
| Colorado | $58K | +7% | 2,340 |
| Illinois | $57K | +6% | 1,110 |
| New York | $57K | +6% | 2,540 |
| New Hampshire | $57K | +6% | 260 |
| Delaware | $57K | +5% | 180 |
| Virginia | $57K | +5% | 2,440 |
| Maine | $56K | +4% | 220 |
| Vermont | $56K | +4% | 40 |
| Indiana | $56K | +4% | 1,060 |
| New Mexico | $56K | +4% | 610 |
| Oregon | $56K | +3% | 1,280 |
| Hawaii | $56K | +2% | 140 |
| Arizona | $54K | -0% | 700 |
| North Carolina | $53K | -2% | 4,100 |
| Idaho | $53K | -3% | 450 |
| Missouri | $52K | -5% | 720 |
| Kansas | $51K | -6% | 730 |
| Tennessee | $50K | -7% | 1,340 |
| Michigan | $50K | -7% | 690 |
| South Dakota | $50K | -8% | 110 |
| Louisiana | $49K | -9% | 930 |
| Georgia | $49K | -10% | 1,890 |
| West Virginia | $49K | -11% | 370 |
| Nebraska | $48K | -11% | 770 |
| Florida | $48K | -11% | 4,810 |
| Texas | $48K | -12% | 8,720 |
| Mississippi | $47K | -13% | 550 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -14% | 810 |
| Alabama | $46K | -14% | 1,320 |
| Arkansas | $46K | -15% | 810 |
| Kentucky | $46K | -15% | 920 |
| South Carolina | $44K | -19% | 1,420 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track surveying and mapping technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Auburn-Opelika numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surveying and mapping technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Auburn-Opelika?
Yes — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 26.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $995/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surveying and mapping technicians in Auburn-Opelika?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surveying and mapping technicians typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,865/month. At HUD’s $995/month FMR, rent would take 53% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is surveying and mapping technician a high-paying job in Auburn-Opelika?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $56K locally vs. $54K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Auburn-Opelika compare to the national average for surveying and mapping technicians?
Auburn-Opelika pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.93), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surveying and mapping technicians make in Auburn-Opelika, AL?
The median is $56,320 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,080, and experienced surveying and mapping technicians can clear $84,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Auburn-Opelika?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,720/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $995/month, which eats 26.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a surveying and mapping technicians salary go in Auburn-Opelika?
Auburn-Opelika has a Regional Price Parity of 87.93 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median surveying and mapping technicians salary is worth about $64,051 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do surveying and mapping technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.