State comparison · 2025
Surveyors salary: California vs Iowa
Surveyors in California earn a median of $105,330. In Iowa, $77,090. After cost-of-living, the gap is 8.4% — not 36.6%.
Nominal pay gap
+36.6%
California vs Iowa
COL-adjusted gap
+8.4%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Surveyors
- Median
- $105,330
- p25
- $78,500
- p75
- $134,250
- p10
- $59,310
- p90
- $160,430
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
Iowa
Surveyors
- Median
- $77,090
- p25
- $68,580
- p75
- $102,220
- p10
- $47,830
- p90
- $129,670
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 87.8
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.