Surveying and Mapping Technicians Salary
The median pay for a surveying and mapping technicians in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA is $55,900/year ($26.88/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.56), which stretches that salary to about $59,748 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,252/month, about 33.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $56K get you in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Scranton--Wilkes-Barre’s Regional Price Parity (93.56). 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre
Surveying and mapping technicians pay in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre tracks closely to the national median, $56K locally vs. $54K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,252/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.56 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $59K | $58K |
| Pittsburgh | $57K | $61K |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $59K | $60K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $60K | $60K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
Entry-level surveying and mapping technicians (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $35K 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surveying and mapping technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 33.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,252/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for surveying and mapping technicians in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surveying and mapping technicians typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,324/month. At HUD’s $1,252/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $56K locally vs. $54K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Scranton--Wilkes-Barre compare to the national average for surveying and mapping technicians?
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.56), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surveying and mapping technicians make in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
The median is $55,900 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,740, and experienced surveying and mapping technicians can clear $73,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,770/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,252/month, which eats 33.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a surveying and mapping technicians salary go in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre has a Regional Price Parity of 93.56 (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 $59,748 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.