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

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

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

North Carolina is 5.8% cheaper than the US average

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

Nominal Salary
$53,160
Median annual (2025)
+6.2%
Real Purchasing Power
$56,433
COL-adjusted (RPP=94.2)

North Carolina Cost of Living Index

North Carolina's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 94.2, meaning prices are 5.8% lower the national average. A Surveying and Mapping Technicians earning $53,160 in North Carolina has the equivalent purchasing power of $56,433 in an average-cost US state.

NC: 94.2
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 North Carolina's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $37,710 $40,031 +$2,321
25th Percentile (P25) $45,740 $48,556 +$2,816
Median (P50) $53,160 $56,433 +$3,273
75th Percentile (P75) $62,730 $66,592 +$3,862
90th Percentile (P90) $76,420 $81,125 +$4,705
Key Insight

A Surveying and Mapping Technicians in North Carolina earns $53,160 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 6% further — like earning $56,433 in an average-cost state. This makes North Carolina one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

North Carolina Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 94.2

With an RPP of 94.2, North Carolina 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.

Meaningful Purchasing-Power Shift

+6.2%

After applying North Carolina's RPP, the $53,160 median salary translates to $56,433 in real terms — a 6.2% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Surveying and Mapping Technicians.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#25 / 50

North Carolina sits at #25 of 50 states for Surveying and Mapping Technicians COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

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

North Carolina ranks #25 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 North Carolina after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

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

A Surveying and Mapping Technicians in North Carolina earns a median salary of $53,160 per year. After adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (RPP=94.2), the real purchasing power is $56,433 — a +6.2% difference.

Is North Carolina expensive to live in?

North Carolina's cost of living is 5.8% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for North Carolina is 94.2 (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 North Carolina: $53,160 x (100 / 94.2) = $56,433. 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 North Carolina financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Surveying and Mapping Technicians in North Carolina enjoys 6.2% 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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