Surveyors Salary
The median pay for a surveyors in Tennessee is $76,340/year ($36.7/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $114K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $85,030 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 22.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $76K get you in Tennessee?
About surveyors
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Surveyors pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $76K locally vs. $75K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 23.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (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, Tennessee
Entry-level surveyors (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $114K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Surveyors salary by metro in Tennessee
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $79K | +3% | 340 |
| Memphis | $76K | -0% | 100 |
| Clarksville | $74K | -3% | 40 |
| Knoxville | $74K | -3% | 140 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $63K | -18% | 50 |
| Chattanooga | $60K | -22% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track surveyors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surveyor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 23.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surveyors in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surveyors typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,937/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $76K locally vs. $75K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for surveyors?
Tennessee pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surveyors make in Tennessee?
The median is $76,340 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,950, and experienced surveyors can clear $114,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,174/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 23.5% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $85,030 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.