Surveyor salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Surveyors in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $100,930 a year ($48.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,930 for the top 10%. That is 34% higher than the national median of $75,440. Pay here is 4% lower than the California statewide median of $105,330. There are 0.48 surveyors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $106,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for surveyors in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| 25th percentile | $78,520 | $37.75 |
| Median | $100,930 | $48.53 |
| 75th percentile | $127,090 | $61.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,930 | $72.56 |
| Average (mean) | $106,490 | $51.20 |
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 | $8,410.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,205.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,881.92 |
| Weekly | $1,940.96 |
| Hourly | $48.53 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Yuba City, CA | $133,270 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $128,600 | 370 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,060 | 630 |
| Redding, CA | $124,160 | 40 |
| Vallejo, CA | $123,590 | 50 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $120,000 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $117,160 | 170 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $107,700 | 80 |
| Fresno, CA | $107,230 | 190 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $102,210 | 430 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $101,950 | 970 |
| Salinas, CA | $101,120 | 40 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $100,920 | 130 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $100,510 | 480 |
| Modesto, CA | $99,270 | 60 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $98,810 | 80 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $88,050 | 110 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $103,820 | $49.92 |
| Civil Engineer | $119,980 | $57.68 |
| Engineers, All Other | $136,650 | $65.70 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $121,130 | $58.23 |
| Industrial Engineer | $119,790 | $57.59 |
| Electrical Engineer | $134,640 | $64.73 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $73,930 | $35.54 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $135,810 | $65.30 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $85,510 | $41.11 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $83,040 | $39.92 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $76,500 | $36.78 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $130,870 | $62.92 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $84,410 | $40.58 |
| Environmental Engineer | $122,380 | $58.84 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for surveyors in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $100,930 a year, or $48.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid surveyors make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of surveyors in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $150,930 a year. The top 25% earn $127,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for surveyors in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,070 a year, and a quarter of surveyors earn $78,520 or less.
How many surveyors work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 100 surveyors are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.