Civil Engineer Salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Civil Engineers in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn a median $100,680 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,568 take-home, or $6,381 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Pittsburgh, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,320
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,242
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,460
- Pennsylvania income tax$3,091
- Take-home pay$76,568
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Pittsburgh? City residents also pay Pittsburgh’s 1% city + 2% school district — about $3,020 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $73,547 ($6,129 a month). Choose “Pittsburgh” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Pittsburgh, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,970 | $33.16 | $55,233 | $4,603 |
| 25th percentile | $77,640 | $37.33 | $61,066 | $5,089 |
| Median (50th) | $100,680 | $48.40 | $76,568 | $6,381 |
| 75th percentile | $124,850 | $60.02 | $92,768 | $7,731 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $141,310 | $67.94 | $103,513 | $8,626 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,680 buys in Pittsburgh, PA
Prices in Pittsburgh, PA are 5.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $76,568 take-home pay has the buying power of $80,877 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Pittsburgh, PA 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
Pittsburgh, PA ranks #6 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 Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA — $99,410
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median civil engineer salary in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area is $100,680 a year, or about $48.40 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,640 and $124,850.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Pittsburgh, PA?
On the median $100,680 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $76,568 a year ($6,381 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,091 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Pittsburgh, PA a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 5.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $80,877 would in a typical U.S. city. Pittsburgh, PA ranks #6 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Pittsburgh, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Pittsburgh, PA is $1,058 a month ($1,281 for two bedrooms) — 17% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Pittsburgh, PA
- Mechanical Engineer — $98,050