Civil Engineer Salary in Austin, TX
Civil Engineers in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area earn a median $100,470 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $79,511 take-home, or $6,626 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Austin, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,273
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,229
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,457
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$79,511
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Austin, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,380 | $31.43 | $54,713 | $4,559 |
| 25th percentile | $80,070 | $38.50 | $65,159 | $5,430 |
| Median (50th) | $100,470 | $48.30 | $79,511 | $6,626 |
| 75th percentile | $128,890 | $61.97 | $99,362 | $8,280 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $162,770 | $78.25 | $122,519 | $10,210 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,470 buys in Austin, TX
Prices in Austin, TX are 1.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $79,511 take-home pay has the buying power of $81,079 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Austin, TX has 1.6× the national concentration of civil engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Austin, TX ranks #4 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 |
*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.
Civil Engineer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Houston, TX — $100,950
- Dallas, TX — $96,920
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Austin, TX?
The median civil engineer salary in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area is $100,470 a year, or about $48.30 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,070 and $128,890.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Austin, TX?
On the median $100,470 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $79,511 a year ($6,626 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Austin, TX a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 1.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $81,079 would in a typical U.S. city. Austin, TX ranks #4 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Austin, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Austin, TX is $1,562 a month ($1,852 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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