State comparison · 2025
Surveyors salary: California vs South Dakota
Surveyors in California earn a median of $105,330. In South Dakota, $77,190. After cost-of-living, the gap is 9.2% — not 36.5%.
Nominal pay gap
+36.5%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+9.2%
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
South Dakota
Surveyors
- Median
- $77,190
- p25
- $68,890
- p75
- $100,580
- p10
- $59,690
- p90
- $122,560
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
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.