Civil Engineer Salary in Portland, OR
Civil Engineers in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $106,280 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,128 take-home, or $6,261 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,552
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,589
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,541
- Oregon income tax$8,470
- Take-home pay$75,128
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,860 | $37.91 | $58,237 | $4,853 |
| 25th percentile | $82,580 | $39.70 | $60,529 | $5,044 |
| Median (50th) | $106,280 | $51.10 | $75,128 | $6,261 |
| 75th percentile | $135,870 | $65.32 | $92,983 | $7,749 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,060 | $79.84 | $110,629 | $9,219 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $106,280 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $75,128 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,265 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Portland, OR has 1.5× 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
Portland, OR ranks #25 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 |
| 25 | Portland, OR | $106,280 | $75,128 | $71,265 |
*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 Portland, OR?
The median civil engineer salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $106,280 a year, or about $51.10 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,580 and $135,870.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $106,280 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $75,128 a year ($6,261 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,470 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,265 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #25 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, OR
- Industrial Engineer — $129,890
- Mechanical Engineer — $105,020