Surveyors Salary
The median pay for a surveyors in Missouri is $62,110/year ($29.86/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $69,810 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 26.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in Missouri?
About surveyors
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for surveyors in Missouri runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $75K. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Missouri
Entry-level surveyors (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Surveyors salary by metro in Missouri
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $74K | +19% | 260 |
| St. Louis | $66K | +6% | 460 |
| Joplin | $65K | +5% | 30 |
| Springfield | $65K | +5% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track surveyors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surveyor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 26.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surveyors in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surveyors typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,562/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Missouri?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $62K here vs. $75K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for surveyors?
Missouri pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do surveyors make in Missouri?
The median is $62,110 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,700, and experienced surveyors can clear $101,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,148/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 26.4% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $69,810 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.