Civil Engineer Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Civil Engineers in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $90,330 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $70,328 take-home, or $5,861 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,043
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,600
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,310
- Arizona income tax$2,050
- Take-home pay$70,328
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,740 | $30.64 | $52,010 | $4,334 |
| 25th percentile | $77,750 | $37.38 | $61,792 | $5,149 |
| Median (50th) | $90,330 | $43.43 | $70,328 | $5,861 |
| 75th percentile | $108,510 | $52.17 | $82,663 | $6,889 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,240 | $66.94 | $103,164 | $8,597 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $90,330 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $70,328 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,070 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 Phoenix, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #31 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 |
| 31 | Phoenix, AZ | $90,330 | $70,328 | $68,070 |
*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 Phoenix, AZ?
The median civil engineer salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $90,330 a year, or about $43.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,750 and $108,510.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $90,330 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $70,328 a year ($5,861 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,050 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,070 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #31 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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