Civil Engineer Salary in Atlanta, GA
Civil Engineers in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $88,000 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,794 take-home, or $5,566 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,530
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,456
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,276
- Georgia income tax$3,944
- Take-home pay$66,794
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.19% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,810 | $30.68 | $50,762 | $4,230 |
| 25th percentile | $78,130 | $37.56 | $60,362 | $5,030 |
| Median (50th) | $88,000 | $42.31 | $66,794 | $5,566 |
| 75th percentile | $116,430 | $55.98 | $85,319 | $7,110 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,150 | $77.00 | $113,040 | $9,420 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $88,000 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $66,794 take-home pay has the buying power of $66,755 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Civil Engineer jobs are about as common in Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #32 of 33 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $130,150 | $90,657 | $84,988 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $130,280 | $90,732 | $82,168 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $116,480 | $90,774 | $81,680 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $100,470 | $79,511 | $81,079 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $100,950 | $79,848 | $80,958 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,680 | $76,568 | $80,877 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $98,860 | $74,669 | $80,686 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $99,010 | $76,543 | $80,176 |
| 32 | Atlanta, GA | $88,000 | $66,794 | $66,755 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 33 metros →
About the job: civil engineers
Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Atlanta, GA?
The median civil engineer salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $88,000 a year, or about $42.31 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,130 and $116,430.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $88,000 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $66,794 a year ($5,566 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,944 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $66,755 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #32 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
- Engineers, All Other — $122,570
- Industrial Engineer — $102,300
- Mechanical Engineer — $102,020