Surveyor salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Surveyors in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $83,420 a year ($40.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $140,110 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $75,440. Pay here is 9% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $76,210. There are 0.15 surveyors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.45). The average (mean) salary is $90,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for surveyors in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,110 | $24.09 |
| 25th percentile | $74,170 | $35.66 |
| Median | $83,420 | $40.11 |
| 75th percentile | $109,630 | $52.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $140,110 | $67.36 |
| Average (mean) | $90,460 | $43.49 |
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 | $6,951.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,475.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,208.46 |
| Weekly | $1,604.23 |
| Hourly | $40.11 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $93,660 | 350 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $76,930 | 80 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $76,710 | 450 |
| Asheville, NC | $74,030 | 100 |
| Wilmington, NC | $72,160 | 120 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $72,100 | 190 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $71,320 | 60 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $98,620 | $47.41 |
| Landscape Architect | $84,270 | $40.51 |
| Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | $77,320 | $37.17 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,890 | $49.47 |
| Electrical Engineer | $129,030 | $62.03 |
| Civil Engineer | $93,940 | $45.16 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $101,650 | $48.87 |
| Engineers, All Other | $127,710 | $61.40 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $175,110 | $84.19 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $62,420 | $30.01 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,320 | $30.92 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $99,050 | $47.62 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $155,680 | $74.85 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $63,870 | $30.71 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for surveyors in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $83,420 a year, or $40.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $140,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid surveyors make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of surveyors in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $140,110 a year. The top 25% earn $109,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for surveyors in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,110 a year, and a quarter of surveyors earn $74,170 or less.
How many surveyors work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 50 surveyors are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.