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Salary Guides / California
Surveyor Assistant Salary in California
California employee wage ranges for surveying support, with national sector comparisons and questions about paid field time.
What Surveyor Assistants Earn in California
California surveying and mapping technician wages span $23.08–$57.34/hr, or $48,000–$119,270 a year. These employee figures include experienced technicians and mapping duties beyond entry assistant work. Licensed surveyors belong to a separate occupation. Read offers against field responsibilities, office processing and daily travel schedules. Keep overtime, benefits and equipment arrangements separate from the base wage comparison. For California construction assignments, discuss required preparation and workday transfers when reviewing the paid schedule.
Hourly rates by level in California
What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.
Where do you stand?
Enter your hourly rate to see how it compares to other surveyor assistants in California.
What are you making?
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Use your base rate, not what you take home after overtime.
You're right around the middle
$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.
Calculate pay with extra credentials
Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.
1Your level
2Certifications you hold
3Shift & work type
4Overtime & per diem
An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.
Who pays the most in California
City crews, utility contractors and surveying firms offer different assignments. These national figures provide context for California vacancies and their responsibilities.
Local Government
Municipal mapping and public infrastructure records call for accurate, orderly observations. Ask California agencies how field assignments connect with office processing responsibilities. Read the vacancy for the balance between outdoor measurements, record maintenance and mapping support.
Utility System Construction
Pipeline and power projects need construction measurements alongside active crews. Discuss California project locations, access windows and paid transfers between sites. Ask how the crew schedules observation work around construction activity and who handles processing afterward.
Which states pay surveyor assistants the most
Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.
What each certification is worth
Sorted by payback speed.
| Certification | Rate bump | Extra / year | Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern California Surveyors JAC Chainman Apprenticeship (journeyperson) | +$11.94 | $24,835 | $0 | 0 weeks |
| OSHA 30-Hour Construction | +$1.70 | $3,536 | $159 | 3 weeks |
| OSHA 10-Hour Construction | +$0.57 | $1,186 | $59 | 3 weeks |
| Cal/OSHA Silica in Construction (8 CCR 1532.3) Training | +$0.06 | $125 |
What overtime actually adds
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $37.55/hr.
Questions workers ask
Do the experience bands describe registered apprentice wages?▾
How should I compare two survey assistant offers?▾
When does overtime apply to field crews?▾
See Open Surveyor Assistant Jobs in California
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
Current BLS California employee wages for Surveying and Mapping Technicians, SOC 17-3031; includes mapping technicians and experienced staff, excludes licensed surveyors, premium pay and benefits.
Last updated October 21, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.
