Civil Engineer Salary in Raleigh, NC
Civil Engineers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $101,440 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,654 take-home, or $6,388 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,487
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,289
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,471
- North Carolina income tax$3,539
- Take-home pay$76,654
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.99% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,170 | $35.66 | $58,558 | $4,880 |
| 25th percentile | $79,840 | $38.38 | $62,321 | $5,193 |
| Median (50th) | $101,440 | $48.77 | $76,654 | $6,388 |
| 75th percentile | $127,280 | $61.19 | $93,692 | $7,808 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,710 | $78.71 | $117,138 | $9,762 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $101,440 buys in Raleigh, NC
Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $76,654 take-home pay has the buying power of $78,094 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Raleigh, NC has 2.6× 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
Raleigh, NC ranks #13 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 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $101,440 | $76,654 | $78,094 |
*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 North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $102,370
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Raleigh, NC?
The median civil engineer salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $101,440 a year, or about $48.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,840 and $127,280.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $101,440 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $76,654 a year ($6,388 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,539 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $78,094 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #13 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is $1,596 a month ($1,750 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.