What is the minimum wage for a land surveyor in Australia?

Most land surveyors are covered by the Surveying Award 2020. The minimum hourly rate ranges from $26.44 (Level 12) to $49.09 (Level 1) for full-time adult employees. New graduates without experience may start at a percentage of the relevant level. The award rate is the legal minimum; many surveyors earn above this through enterprise agreements or individual negotiation.

Does the land surveyor salary include superannuation?

No. The award rates are base pay. Employers must also pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings. For example, a Level 1 surveyor earning $49.09 per hour would receive an additional $5.89 per hour in super, paid into a nominated fund.

Can a land surveyor be paid less than the award rate?

Generally no, unless the employee is a junior, apprentice, or on a supported wage. Juniors under 21 are paid a percentage of the Level 10 rate (e.g., 88% at age 20). New graduates may be phased in over 1–4 years. An enterprise agreement can set different rates but must not be less than the award overall. The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour acts as a backstop for award-free employees.

Land surveyor salary: award minimums and the pay floor

The Surveying Award sets minimum rates from $26.44 to $49.09 per hour, depending on classification and experience.

Understanding the land surveyor salary floor

For anyone working in surveying in Australia, the starting point for understanding your pay is the Surveying Award 2020 (MA000066). This Fair Work Commission consolidated modern award sets the legal minimum wages for professional surveyors, graduate surveyors, licensed surveyors, survey technicians, and survey assistants. The award covers employers throughout Australia who employ these workers, as explained by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

The national minimum wage – currently $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week from 1 July 2026 – applies only if no other award or agreement covers the employee. Because almost all land surveyors are covered by the Surveying Award, the award rates are the relevant pay floor.

Award rates for land surveyors

The Surveying Award classifies employees into 12 levels, with Level 12 being the lowest and Level 1 the highest. The minimum weekly and hourly rates for full-time adult employees (as at 1 July 2026) are:

Level 12: $1,004.90 per week / $26.44 per hour
Level 10: $1,119.10 per week / $29.45 per hour
Level 7: $1,309.50 per week / $34.46 per hour
Level 5: $1,415.00 per week / $37.24 per hour
Level 2: $1,654.40 per week / $43.54 per hour
Level 1: $1,865.60 per week / $49.09 per hour

A professional surveyor – defined as someone qualified to carry out professional surveying duties, including graduate and licensed/registered surveyors – would typically be classified at a higher level. The exact level depends on qualifications, experience, and the nature of the work. The award also provides for incremental advancement for licensed surveyors.

New graduates without relevant work experience are paid a percentage of the award rate for their classification. For example, a graduate with a diploma starts at 77% of the Level 7 rate for the first year, rising to 100% after three years. An advanced diploma graduate starts at 72% of the Level 5 rate, reaching 100% after four years.

How the land surveyor salary compares

The highest minimum rate under the award – $49.09 per hour for Level 1 – is well above the national minimum wage of $26.44. However, many land surveyors earn more than the award minimum. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, average full-time adult ordinary-time earnings were $2,083.70 per week in May 2026, which is higher than even the Level 1 award rate of $1,865.60. Actual salaries for experienced licensed surveyors can be significantly higher, especially in private practice or resource sectors.

It is important to remember that the award rate is a floor, not a ceiling. Enterprise agreements or individual contracts can set higher rates. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database provides the official calculated rates, including penalty rates and allowances.

Casual and junior rates

Casual employees under the Surveying Award receive a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate. For example, a casual Level 10 surveyor would receive $36.81 per hour (125% of $29.45). Public holiday work attracts 250% of the ordinary rate (312.5% for casuals).

Junior employees (under 21) are paid a percentage of the Level 10 rate. At age 17, the rate is 52% of Level 10; at 20, it is 88%. These percentages apply to both full-time and part-time juniors.

Superannuation and other entitlements

All award rates are base pay. Employers must pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings. For a Level 1 surveyor earning $49.09 per hour, that adds about $5.89 per hour in super. The award also includes provisions for overtime, penalty rates, allowances (e.g., for travel, tools, or height work), and leave entitlements.

For more detailed rate tables and guides, see our Rate tables and Guides.

Determining your classification

To find your exact minimum rate, you need to match your duties and qualifications to the classification definitions in Schedule A of the award. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s online tool can help, but the award itself is the authoritative source. Employers and employees should also check whether an enterprise agreement applies, as it may set higher rates.

The award does not cover local government employees, architects, or town planners in the town planning industry. Those workers may be covered by other awards or agreements.

Annual updates

Award minimum wages are adjusted each year following the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review. The 2026 increase was 4.75%, effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. The national minimum wage also rose to $26.44 per hour. Always check the current award rates, as the figures in this guide may become outdated.

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