Surveyor salary: from award minimums to median earnings
Understand surveyor salary in Australia: award rates from the Surveying Award 2020, median weekly earnings of $2,300, and how gross pay, super, and tax affect take-home pay.
The median surveyor salary sits at an index of around 110, above the national line, while award minimums range from index 48 to 90.
What does 'surveyor salary' mean?
When we talk about a surveyor salary in Australia, we're referring to the pay for professionals who plan, direct, and conduct survey work – from land boundaries to marine floors and underground works. This covers everyone from graduate surveyors to licensed surveyors and spatial scientists. The keyword 'surveyor salary' is a lens to understand how these roles are compensated, from the legal minimums set by the Surveying Award 2020 to the actual median earnings reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Award minimums: the legal floor
The Surveying Award 2020 (MA000066) covers employers and employees in the surveying industry. It sets minimum weekly rates for full-time adult employees, ranging from Level 12 (the lowest) to Level 1 (the highest). Here are the key rates effective from 1 July 2026:
- Level 12: $1,004.90 per week ($26.44/hr) – index 48.2
- Level 10: $1,119.10 per week ($29.45/hr) – index 53.7
- Level 6: $1,344.50 per week ($35.38/hr) – index 64.5
- Level 1: $1,865.60 per week ($49.09/hr) – index 89.5
A 'professional surveyor' under the award is classified at Level 6 or above. Graduate surveyors and licensed surveyors fall into these higher levels, with incremental advancement based on experience. The award also sets junior rates as a percentage of the Level 10 rate (e.g., 52% at age 17).
These award rates are the minimum; many surveyors earn well above them, especially in private practice or mining.
Median earnings: the real picture
According to Jobs and Skills Australia (using ABS data from May 2025), the median weekly earnings for full-time non-managerial Surveyors and Spatial Scientists is $2,300. That's before tax and salary sacrifice. To put that on the Salary Index, where 100 is the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week, the median surveyor salary sits at index 110.4 – comfortably above the national line.
For context, the national minimum wage (index 48.2) is $1,004.90 per week, so the median surveyor earns more than double that. The award's top rate (Level 1) is $1,865.60, which is index 89.5 – still below the median, indicating that most surveyors negotiate above the award.
Gross pay, super, and tax
When you look at a surveyor salary, it's important to consider the full package. Gross pay is the headline figure, but superannuation and tax change what you actually take home.
Superannuation: From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of gross earnings, paid by your employer on top of your salary. On the median $2,300 per week, that's an extra $276 per week contributed to your super fund. The maximum contribution base for 2026–27 is $270,830 per year, so most surveyors will receive the full 12% on their entire salary.
Tax: Using 2026–27 resident tax rates (excluding Medicare levy surcharge), a surveyor earning the median $119,600 per year would pay:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on the next $26,800 ($4,020)
- 30% on the remaining $74,600 ($22,380)
- Plus 2% Medicare levy ($2,392)
- Total tax and Medicare: $28,792
- Take-home: $90,808 per year, or about $1,746 per week.
This is a simplified estimate. It ignores HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge, which could reduce take-home further.
State and industry variations
Surveyor salaries vary by location and industry. The national median is a guide, but states like Western Australia (index 106.9) and the ACT (index 109.9) have higher overall earnings, while Tasmania (index 88.6) is lower. The states page shows these benchmarks.
Industries also matter. Surveyors often work in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (industry index 114.7), Mining (index 154.7), or Public Administration. Mining, in particular, tends to pay above the median. You can explore more on the industries page.
Putting it all together
A surveyor salary in Australia ranges from award minimums around $1,000 per week to median earnings of $2,300 per week. The award sets a floor, but experience, specialisation, and location push pay higher. When you factor in 12% super and progressive tax, the take-home on a median salary is roughly $1,746 per week. For a deeper dive into how the index works, see how the index works.
Whether you're a graduate starting at Level 10 or a licensed surveyor at Level 1, the keyword 'surveyor salary' helps you benchmark your pay against the national line and understand the full picture of gross pay, super, and tax.
Questions people ask
What is the minimum salary for a surveyor under the Surveying Award?
The Surveying Award 2020 sets minimum weekly rates for full-time employees. The lowest classification (Level 12) pays $1,004.90 per week ($26.44/hr), while the highest (Level 1) pays $1,865.60 per week ($49.09/hr). Professional surveyors (Level 6 and above) start at $1,344.50 per week. These are minimums; actual pay is often higher.
How does superannuation affect a surveyor's gross salary?
From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of gross earnings, paid by the employer on top of salary. For a surveyor earning the median $2,300 per week, that adds $276 per week in super contributions. The maximum contribution base for 2026–27 is $270,830 per year, so most surveyors will receive the full 12% on their entire salary.
What is the take-home pay after tax for a surveyor on the median salary?
Using the median weekly earnings of $2,300 (annualised $119,600) and 2026–27 tax rates (including 2% Medicare levy), the estimated tax is about $29,864 per year. That leaves a take-home of roughly $89,736 per year, or $1,726 per week. This ignores HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge.