GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Surveyors
Best States to Be a Surveyors
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a surveyors salary goes furthest in Alaska — a $99,550 BLS median worth $97,256 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 130.1).
Which US states are best for a surveyors after cost of living and tax?
For a surveyors, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Alaska #1: a $99,550 BLS median becomes $97,256 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 130.1). Arkansas ranks last ($57,499, index 76.9). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
Alaska ranks #1 of 50 states for a surveyors. Index 100 = the average state; 130.1 means pay goes 30.1% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedSurveyors — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $99,550 | — | 102.4 | $97,256 | 130.1 |
| 2 | California | $105,330 | $5,674 | 110.7 | $90,007 | 120.4 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $79,360 | $310 | 89.0 | $88,861 | 118.9 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $81,250 | — | 92.7 | $87,657 | 117.3 |
| 5 | South Dakota | $77,190 | — | 88.6 | $87,136 | 116.6 |
| 6 | Oregon | $97,070 | $7,690 | 103.4 | $86,474 | 115.7 |
| 7 | Montana | $84,610 | $3,854 | 94.6 | $85,325 | 114.2 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $94,590 | $4,510 | 105.8 | $85,177 | 114.0 |
| 9 | Iowa | $77,090 | $2,889 | 87.8 | $84,548 | 113.1 |
| 10 | Indiana | $80,510 | $2,385 | 93.3 | $83,709 | 112.0 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $76,340 | — | 91.9 | $83,096 | 111.2 |
| 12 | Nevada | $82,460 | — | 100.0 | $82,477 | 110.4 |
| 13 | Maine | $83,200 | $4,001 | 97.0 | $81,606 | 109.2 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $79,650 | $3,069 | 94.1 | $81,387 | 108.9 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $83,620 | $4,197 | 98.6 | $80,533 | 107.8 |
| 16 | Kansas | $75,860 | $3,433 | 90.1 | $80,413 | 107.6 |
| 17 | Washington | $85,610 | — | 107.0 | $80,000 | 107.1 |
| 18 | Delaware | $82,890 | $4,130 | 99.8 | $78,912 | 105.6 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $76,210 | $2,697 | 94.3 | $77,935 | 104.3 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $74,230 | $2,375 | 92.2 | $77,924 | 104.3 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $71,840 | $2,743 | 90.2 | $76,639 | 102.6 |
| 22 | Arizona | $77,490 | $1,462 | 100.7 | $75,517 | 101.1 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $75,950 | $2,332 | 97.6 | $75,450 | 101.0 |
| 24 | Vermont | $76,450 | $2,664 | 98.0 | $75,324 | 100.8 |
| 25 | Ohio | $70,620 | $1,160 | 92.8 | $74,870 | 100.2 |
| 26 | Colorado | $79,310 | $2,830 | 103.1 | $74,215 | 99.3 |
| 27 | Idaho | $73,940 | $3,091 | 95.5 | $74,193 | 99.3 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $68,050 | $2,442 | 90.1 | $72,814 | 97.4 |
| 29 | Illinois | $75,980 | $3,620 | 100.0 | $72,390 | 96.9 |
| 30 | Michigan | $72,080 | $2,817 | 96.2 | $71,986 | 96.3 |
| 31 | Alabama | $66,840 | $3,077 | 88.8 | $71,787 | 96.1 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $76,730 | $2,645 | 103.6 | $71,504 | 95.7 |
| 33 | Utah | $73,230 | $3,332 | 98.9 | $70,701 | 94.6 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $82,200 | $4,717 | 110.0 | $70,470 | 94.3 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $63,140 | $1,519 | 88.2 | $69,859 | 93.5 |
| 36 | New York | $78,870 | $3,733 | 107.9 | $69,622 | 93.2 |
| 37 | New Jersey | $77,160 | $2,725 | 108.8 | $68,411 | 91.5 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $61,300 | $2,374 | 87.8 | $67,081 | 89.8 |
| 39 | Virginia | $71,070 | $3,287 | 101.1 | $67,043 | 89.7 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $61,520 | $2,032 | 89.5 | $66,469 | 88.9 |
| 41 | Missouri | $62,110 | $2,038 | 90.8 | $66,146 | 88.5 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $58,720 | $1,778 | 87.0 | $65,485 | 87.6 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $63,300 | $2,317 | 93.7 | $65,049 | 87.0 |
| 44 | Florida | $65,480 | — | 103.4 | $63,318 | 84.7 |
| 45 | Texas | $61,150 | — | 97.1 | $63,004 | 84.3 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | $65,130 | — | 104.2 | $62,526 | 83.7 |
| 47 | Rhode Island | $62,670 | $1,750 | 102.3 | $59,562 | 79.7 |
| 48 | Maryland | $64,910 | $2,750 | 105.0 | $59,223 | 79.3 |
| 49 | Georgia | $58,100 | $2,485 | 96.3 | $57,756 | 77.3 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $51,800 | $1,812 | 86.9 | $57,499 | 76.9 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In Alaska, a $99,550 salary is worth about $97,256 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $99,550 · BEA cost of living 102.4 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $112,377, a $15,121 gain over Alaska.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $112,377 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $110,042 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $109,474 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $109,450 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $109,121 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $109,108 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $108,360 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $107,944 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $107,400 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $106,473 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $105,999 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $105,871 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Surveyors — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a surveyors?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Alaska is the best state for a surveyors: a BLS median of $99,550 is worth $97,256 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 102.4), an index of 130.1 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. California has the highest headline BLS median for a surveyors at $105,330, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 50 on real pay (index 120.4). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a surveyors salary go least far?
- Arkansas ranks last of 50 states for a surveyors: a $51,800 BLS median is worth only $57,499 after tax and cost of living (index 76.9). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
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Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a surveyors is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.