Surveyors Salary
The median pay for a surveyors in Kentucky is $71,840/year ($34.54/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $79,619 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 23.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $72K get you in Kentucky?
About surveyors
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Surveyors pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $75K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 23.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Kentucky
Entry-level surveyors (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $62K spread from bottom to top.
Surveyors salary by metro in Kentucky
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | $79K | +10% | 190 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $72K | -0% | 150 |
| Bowling Green | $66K | -8% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track surveyors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surveyor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 23.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surveyors in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surveyors typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,340/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $75K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for surveyors?
Kentucky pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surveyors make in Kentucky?
The median is $71,840 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,000, and experienced surveyors can clear $101,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,671/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $79,619 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.