Land Surveyor Salary: Hourly to Annual Conversion Guide
Under the Surveying Award 2020, a full-time land surveyor at Level 5 earns at least $37.24 per hour, or $73,566 per year based on 38 ordinary hours per week.
Land Surveyor Salary: Understanding Your Pay
If you are a land surveyor or considering a career in surveying, knowing how your hourly rate translates into annual, fortnightly, and take-home pay is essential. This guide uses the latest award rates from the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Fair Work Commission to help you convert a land surveyor salary from hourly to annual figures, including tax and superannuation.
The Formula for Annual Pay
The standard method to estimate annual gross pay is:
Hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks
For a full-time employee under the Surveying Award 2020, ordinary hours are 38 per week. So the calculation becomes:
Hourly rate × 38 × 52
For example, if you are a Level 5 surveyor earning the award minimum of $37.24 per hour, your annual gross salary would be:
$37.24 × 38 × 52 = $73,566 (rounded)
Your fortnightly pay (before tax) would be twice the weekly amount: $37.24 × 38 × 2 = $2,830.24.
Award Minimums for Land Surveyors
The Surveying Award 2020 [MA000066] covers professional surveyors, survey technicians, survey assistants, and graduate surveyors. The award sets minimum hourly rates for each classification level. As of 1 July 2026, the rates range from $26.44 per hour (Level 12, entry-level) to $49.09 per hour (Level 1, highly experienced). A typical land surveyor may be classified at Level 5 ($37.24/hour) or Level 4 ($38.16/hour).
Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the minimum hourly rate. For a Level 5 casual surveyor, the rate is $46.55 per hour. This loading compensates for the lack of paid leave and other entitlements. You can use the casual loading page to see how this affects your pay.
National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates
If you are not covered by an award, the National Minimum Wage applies. From 1 July 2026, it is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week for 38 hours). However, most land surveyors are covered by the Surveying Award, which provides higher minimums. The Fair Work Commission sets both the national minimum and award rates annually.
Tax and the Medicare Levy
Once you have your annual gross figure, you need to estimate tax. For the 2026–27 financial year, the Australian Taxation Office resident tax rates are:
- Nil on income up to $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
Plus a Medicare levy of 2% (with reductions for low-income earners).
For a Level 5 surveyor earning $73,566 annually, the estimated tax would be:
- First $18,200: $0
- Next $26,800 (up to $45,000) at 15%: $4,020
- Remaining $28,566 at 30%: $8,570
- Total tax: $12,590
- Medicare levy (2% of $73,566): $1,471
- Total deductions: $14,061
- Estimated take-home pay: $59,505 per year, or about $4,959 per month.
Use the take-home pay calculator for a more precise estimate based on your specific circumstances.
Superannuation Paid on Top
Your employer must pay superannuation guarantee contributions on top of your ordinary earnings. From 1 July 2026, the rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a Level 5 surveyor earning $73,566, the super contribution would be $8,828 per year. This is not deducted from your salary; it is an additional cost to your employer and goes into your super fund.
Using the Timesheet Tool
The timesheet on this site lets you enter your base hourly rate and optionally add casual loading. It then calculates your annual, fortnightly, and weekly pay, along with estimated tax and super. Remember to use your base rate (before casual loading) – the checkbox adds the 25% loading on top.
Important Disclaimer
Annual pay here is hourly rate × hours per week × 52. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax is the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.
Further Reading
For more detailed pay guides and award information, visit the pay guides page. You can also check the average pay for surveyors from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, or see the hourly conversion guide for other occupations.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.