Surveyors Salary
The median pay for a surveyors in Anchorage, AK is $101,820/year ($48.95/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.42), so that salary is closer to $96,585 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,376/month, or 20.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $102K get you in Anchorage?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Anchorage’s Regional Price Parity (105.42). 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 surveyors
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What this looks like in Anchorage
Anchorage sits well above the national pay line for surveyors, local pay runs about 35% higher than the U.S. median of $75K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,376/month, 20.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.42), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, Anchorage offers a genuinely strong financial position for surveyorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Anchorage, AK
Entry-level surveyors (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Surveyors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Surveyors salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $105K | +40% | 4,520 |
| Alaska | $100K | +32% | 250 |
| Oregon | $97K | +29% | 530 |
| Massachusetts | $95K | +25% | 1,290 |
| Washington | $86K | +13% | 780 |
| Montana | $85K | +12% | 350 |
| Minnesota | $84K | +11% | 980 |
| Maine | $83K | +10% | 270 |
| Delaware | $83K | +10% | 120 |
| Nevada | $82K | +9% | 490 |
| Hawaii | $82K | +9% | 140 |
| Wyoming | $81K | +8% | 240 |
| Indiana | $81K | +7% | 870 |
| Wisconsin | $80K | +6% | 610 |
| North Dakota | $79K | +5% | 250 |
| Colorado | $79K | +5% | 1,620 |
| New York | $79K | +5% | 1,470 |
| Arizona | $77K | +3% | 1,360 |
| South Dakota | $77K | +2% | 180 |
| New Jersey | $77K | +2% | 900 |
| Iowa | $77K | +2% | 450 |
| Connecticut | $77K | +2% | 430 |
| Vermont | $76K | +1% | N/A |
| Tennessee | $76K | +1% | 920 |
| North Carolina | $76K | +1% | 1,530 |
| Illinois | $76K | +1% | 1,710 |
| Pennsylvania | $76K | +1% | 1,610 |
| Kansas | $76K | +1% | 350 |
| New Mexico | $74K | -2% | 290 |
| Idaho | $74K | -2% | 250 |
| Utah | $73K | -3% | 650 |
| Michigan | $72K | -4% | 1,050 |
| Kentucky | $72K | -5% | 670 |
| Virginia | $71K | -6% | 1,360 |
| Ohio | $71K | -6% | 1,300 |
| Nebraska | $68K | -10% | 430 |
| Alabama | $67K | -11% | 910 |
| Florida | $65K | -13% | 4,000 |
| New Hampshire | $65K | -14% | 280 |
| Maryland | $65K | -14% | 950 |
| South Carolina | $63K | -16% | 1,000 |
| Louisiana | $63K | -16% | 1,460 |
| Rhode Island | $63K | -17% | 150 |
| Missouri | $62K | -18% | 830 |
| West Virginia | $62K | -18% | 630 |
| Oklahoma | $61K | -19% | 960 |
| Texas | $61K | -19% | 6,410 |
| Mississippi | $59K | -22% | 570 |
| Georgia | $58K | -23% | 1,770 |
| Arkansas | $52K | -31% | 550 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track surveyors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Anchorage numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surveyor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Anchorage?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 20.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,376/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surveyors in Anchorage?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surveyors typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,720/month. At HUD’s $1,376/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is surveyor a high-paying job in Anchorage?
Local pay is 35% above the national median — $102K here vs. $75K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 5% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Anchorage compare to the national average for surveyors?
Anchorage pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +35%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $97K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surveyors make in Anchorage, AK?
The median is $101,820 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,660, and experienced surveyors can clear $142,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Anchorage?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,668/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,376/month, which eats 20.6% 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 Anchorage?
Anchorage has a Regional Price Parity of 105.42 (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 $96,585 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.