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Surveying and Mapping Technicians Salary in Minnesota: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Surveying and Mapping Technicians salary really buy you in Minnesota?

Minnesota is 2.3% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$73,190
Median annual (2025)
+2.4%
Real Purchasing Power
$74,912
COL-adjusted (RPP=97.7)

Minnesota Cost of Living Index

Minnesota's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 97.7, meaning prices are 2.3% lower the national average. A Surveying and Mapping Technicians earning $73,190 in Minnesota has the equivalent purchasing power of $74,912 in an average-cost US state.

MN: 97.7
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $51,560 $52,773 +$1,213
25th Percentile (P25) $61,980 $63,439 +$1,459
Median (P50) $73,190 $74,912 +$1,722
75th Percentile (P75) $81,120 $83,029 +$1,909
90th Percentile (P90) $95,050 $97,287 +$2,237
Key Insight

Minnesota's cost of living is close to the national average, so $73,190 keeps most of its value at $74,912 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Minnesota Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 97.7

With an RPP of 97.7, Minnesota is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Surveying and Mapping Technicians is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

+2.4%

After adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living, $73,190 nominal nets out to $74,913 in real purchasing power — a small 2.4% gain. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Surveying and Mapping Technicians.

Top-Quartile Adjusted Earnings in Minnesota

#2 / 50

Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Surveying and Mapping Technicians, Minnesota places #2 of 50 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.

Best States for Surveying and Mapping Technicians (After Cost of Living)

Where does Surveying and Mapping Technicians salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Alaska
$75,460
RPP 102.0
$74,912
RPP 97.7
$69,431
RPP 112.5
$68,624
RPP 88.7
5. Montana
$66,810
RPP 90.3
6. Iowa
$66,685
RPP 88.4
7. Ohio
$65,934
RPP 91.5
$64,008
RPP 92.3
9. Wyoming
$63,351
RPP 91.9
10. Utah
$63,068
RPP 94.5

Minnesota ranks #2 out of 50 states for Surveying and Mapping Technicians after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Surveying and Mapping Technicians take-home pay in Minnesota after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Surveying and Mapping Technicians in Minnesota after cost of living?

A Surveying and Mapping Technicians in Minnesota earns a median salary of $73,190 per year. After adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living (RPP=97.7), the real purchasing power is $74,912 — a +2.4% difference.

Is Minnesota expensive to live in?

Minnesota's cost of living is 2.3% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Minnesota is 97.7 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Surveying and Mapping Technicians in Minnesota: $73,190 x (100 / 97.7) = $74,912. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Surveying and Mapping Technicians in Minnesota financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Surveying and Mapping Technicians in Minnesota enjoys 2.4% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.

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