Surveyor salary in Madison, WI
Surveyors in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $90,310 a year ($43.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,100 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $75,440. Pay here is 13% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $79,650. There are 0.17 surveyors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.52). The average (mean) salary is $88,200, close to the median.
Pay range for surveyors in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,330 | $30.93 |
| 25th percentile | $69,220 | $33.28 |
| Median | $90,310 | $43.42 |
| 75th percentile | $96,070 | $46.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,100 | $51.01 |
| Average (mean) | $88,200 | $42.41 |
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 | $7,525.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,762.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,473.46 |
| Weekly | $1,736.73 |
| Hourly | $43.42 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $91,750 | 620 |
| Green Bay, WI | $81,550 | 30 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $81,400 | 170 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $75,360 | 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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $99,210 | $47.70 |
| Landscape Architect | $82,870 | $39.84 |
| Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | $90,230 | $43.38 |
| Civil Engineer | $99,010 | $47.60 |
| Industrial Engineer | $100,370 | $48.25 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $99,680 | $47.93 |
| Electrical Engineer | $102,420 | $49.24 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $72,210 | $34.71 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $76,970 | $37.00 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $65,420 | $31.45 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $63,010 | $30.29 |
| Engineers, All Other | $110,360 | $53.06 |
| Mechanical Drafter | $64,990 | $31.24 |
| Environmental Engineer | $90,560 | $43.54 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for surveyors in the Madison, WI metro area is $90,310 a year, or $43.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid surveyors make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of surveyors in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $106,100 a year. The top 25% earn $96,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for surveyors in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,330 a year, and a quarter of surveyors earn $69,220 or less.
How many surveyors work in Madison, WI?
About 70 surveyors are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.