Surveyor salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Surveyors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $80,060 a year ($38.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,140 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $126,620 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $75,440. Pay here is 5% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $75,980. There are 0.25 surveyors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.77). The average (mean) salary is $83,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for surveyors in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,910 | $22.07 |
| 25th percentile | $59,340 | $28.53 |
| Median | $80,060 | $38.49 |
| 75th percentile | $102,830 | $49.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,620 | $60.87 |
| Average (mean) | $83,940 | $40.36 |
Half of surveyors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,671.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,335.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,079.23 |
| Weekly | $1,539.62 |
| Hourly | $38.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Surveyor salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $99,030 | 50 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $84,800 | 60 |
| Evansville, IN | $82,920 | 30 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $82,170 | 40 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $81,560 | 250 |
| Springfield, IL | $78,460 | 40 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $78,170 | 240 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $71,550 | 150 |
| Peoria, IL | $71,350 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $65,560 | 460 |
Highest-paying states for surveyors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $105,330 |
| Alaska | $99,550 |
| Oregon | $97,070 |
| Massachusetts | $94,590 |
| Washington | $85,610 |
| Montana | $84,610 |
| Minnesota | $83,620 |
| Maine | $83,200 |
| Delaware | $82,890 |
| Nevada | $82,460 |
See Surveyor pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $81,790 | $39.32 |
| Landscape Architect | $66,830 | $32.13 |
| Industrial Engineer | $101,760 | $48.92 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,160 | $48.16 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,070 | $49.07 |
| Electrical Engineer | $113,520 | $54.58 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $81,360 | $39.12 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $85,510 | $41.11 |
| Engineers, All Other | $121,910 | $58.61 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $74,890 | $36.01 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $133,860 | $64.35 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $58,800 | $28.27 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $57,470 | $27.63 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $134,510 | $64.67 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-1022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a surveyor make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for surveyors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $80,060 a year, or $38.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $126,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid surveyors make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of surveyors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $126,620 a year. The top 25% earn $102,830 or more.
What is the starting pay for surveyors in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,910 a year, and a quarter of surveyors earn $59,340 or less.
How many surveyors work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 1,140 surveyors are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.