Surveying and Mapping Technicians Salary
The median pay for a surveying and mapping technicians in Iowa City, IA is $59,350/year ($28.53/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers.
So what does $59K get you in Iowa City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Iowa City’s Regional Price Parity (91.5). 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 Iowa City
Surveying and mapping technicians pay in Iowa City tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $54K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $923/month, 23.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.5 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for surveying and mapping technicians in metros near Iowa City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $60K | , |
| Cedar Rapids | $60K | , |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $57K | , |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $57K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa City, IA
Entry-level surveying and mapping technicians (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $37K 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
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 Iowa City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surveying and mapping technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa City?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 23.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $923/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surveying and mapping technicians in Iowa City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surveying and mapping technicians typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,896/month. At HUD’s $923/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Iowa City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $54K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Iowa City compare to the national average for surveying and mapping technicians?
Iowa City pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.5), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surveying and mapping technicians make in Iowa City, IA?
The median is $59,350 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,260, and experienced surveying and mapping technicians can clear $84,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Iowa City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,897/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $923/month, which eats 23.7% 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 Iowa City?
Iowa City has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median surveying and mapping technicians salary is worth about $64,863 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.