Surveyors Salary
The median pay for a surveyors in Idaho is $73,940/year ($35.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $113K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $78,760 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,136/month, or 23.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $74K actually covers in Idaho, month by month
About surveyors
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Idaho
Surveyors pay in Idaho tracks closely to the national median, $74K locally vs. $75K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,136/month, 23.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level surveyors (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $113K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Surveyors salary by metro in Idaho
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $75K | +2% | 100 |
| Coeur d'Alene | $74K | -0% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track surveyors salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a surveyor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
Yes — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 23.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surveyors in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surveyors typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,147/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Idaho?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $74K locally vs. $75K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for surveyors?
Idaho pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surveyors make in Idaho?
The median is $73,940 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,500, and experienced surveyors can clear $113,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,765/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 23.8% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 surveyors salary is worth about $78,760 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.