Surveyors Salary
The median pay for a surveyors in Alaska is $99,550/year ($47.86/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $95,437 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,643/month, or 24.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alaska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $100K get you in Alaska?
About surveyors
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What this looks like in Alaska
Alaska sits well above the national pay line for surveyors, local pay runs about 32% higher than the U.S. median of $75K. Rent runs $1,643/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level surveyors (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Surveyors salary by metro in Alaska
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $102K | +2% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track surveyors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alaska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surveyor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alaska?
Yes — at the median salary of $100K, rent takes 25.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surveyors in Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surveyors typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,411/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is surveyor a high-paying job in Alaska?
Local pay is 32% above the national median — $100K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for surveyors?
Alaska pays $100K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surveyors make in Alaska?
The median is $99,550 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,520, and experienced surveyors can clear $142,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,535/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 25.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a surveyors salary go in Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median surveyors salary is worth about $95,437 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do surveyors 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.