Surveyors Salary
The median pay for a surveyors in North Dakota is $79,360/year ($38.15/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $89,279 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 19.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in North Dakota?
About surveyors
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Surveyors pay in North Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $75K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 19.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (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, North Dakota
Entry-level surveyors (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Surveyors salary by metro in North Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $102K | +29% | 60 |
| Bismarck | $80K | +0% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track surveyors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surveyor afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 19.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surveyors in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surveyors typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,161/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 North Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $75K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for surveyors?
North Dakota pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surveyors make in North Dakota?
The median is $79,360 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,680, and experienced surveyors can clear $127,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,222/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 19.8% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $89,279 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.