Surveyors pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $124,530 or more. The middle half of surveyors in Philadelphia earn between $63,620 and $97,530.
- $57K10th
- $64K25th
- $79KMedian
- $98K75th
- $125K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $85,010 | $7,084 | $40.87 |
| Median | $79,040 | $6,587 | $38.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,620 | $5,302 | $30.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,530 | $8,128 | $46.89 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surveyors pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Surveyors in Philadelphia earn 6% more than the Pennsylvania average ($80,270) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($80,570). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $75,440.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $85,010 | $79,040 | $56,710 | $124,530 | 610 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,270 | $75,950 | $52,160 | $115,450 | 1,610 |
| United States | $80,570 | $75,440 | $46,880 | $125,590 | 50,830 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Surveyors salary after taxes in Philadelphia
On the average salary of $85,010, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $66,025 a year, or $5,502 a month and $2,539 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in PA | $66,025 | $5,502 |
| Working in NJ | $65,409 | $5,451 |
| Working in MD | $64,808 | $5,401 |
| Working in DE | $64,255 | $5,355 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for surveyors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $85,010 buys what about $82,893 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Surveyors salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 1st of 9 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Philadelphia$85,010
- Pittsburgh$82,370
- Lancaster$80,240
- York$79,950
- Scranton$79,750
- Allentown$77,820
- Harrisburg$75,930
- Reading$75,610
- Erie$62,890
Highest-paying cities for surveyors
Yuba City, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($127,690).
- Yuba City, CA$127,690
- San Francisco, CA$126,380
- Redding, CA$124,490
- Sacramento, CA$120,210
- Stockton, CA$118,870
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Surveyors salary in Philadelphia: questions
How much do surveyors make an hour in Philadelphia?
$40.87 an hour on average, and $38.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surveyors salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,620, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surveyors take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $66,025 a year ($5,502 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $85,010. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do surveyors earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($80,570).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-1022; area Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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