Civil Engineer Salary
Civil Engineers earn a median $100,840 a year nationally. Architecture and Engineering Occupations
U.S. median
$100,840
$48.48 per hour
Range
$68,240 – $163,220
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
367,840
across the U.S.
▲1.3%
Pay trend: The median for civil engineers in the U.S. rose from $99,590 (May 2024) to $100,840 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 1.1%.
What civil engineers do
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)
- Openings per year
- 22,700
- Self-employed
- 2%
Employment of civil engineers is projected to grow 6.4% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 22,700 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Civil Engineer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$79,771
per year · effective tax rate 20.9%
$6,648Monthly
$3,324Twice a month
$3,068Every 2 weeks
$38.35Hourly
- Federal income tax$13,355
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,252
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,462
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$79,771
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,240 | $32.81 | $56,837 |
| 25th percentile | $79,930 | $38.43 | $65,061 |
| Median (50th) | $100,840 | $48.48 | $79,771 |
| 75th percentile | $129,680 | $62.35 | $99,902 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,220 | $78.47 | $122,827 |
Best cities for civil engineers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $130,150 | $90,657 | $84,988 | 5,590 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $130,280 | $90,732 | $82,168 | 3,170 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $116,480 | $90,774 | $81,680 | 7,680 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $100,470 | $79,511 | $81,079 | 4,940 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $100,950 | $79,848 | $80,958 | 12,140 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,680 | $76,568 | $80,877 | 4,210 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $98,860 | $74,669 | $80,686 | 3,230 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $99,010 | $76,543 | $80,176 | 2,630 |
| 9 | Charlotte, NC | $102,370 | $77,271 | $79,377 | 3,730 |
| 10 | Tampa, FL | $100,570 | $79,581 | $78,879 | 4,190 |
| 11 | Orlando, FL | $100,740 | $79,701 | $78,586 | 3,720 |
| 12 | San Francisco, CA | $130,160 | $90,663 | $78,419 | 10,990 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $101,440 | $76,654 | $78,094 | 4,640 |
| 14 | St. Louis, MO | $96,830 | $73,336 | $77,125 | 3,150 |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $115,120 | $81,844 | $76,890 | 3,510 |
| 16 | Hartford, CT | $103,650 | $77,622 | $75,547 | 2,420 |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | $96,920 | $77,013 | $74,705 | 8,010 |
| 18 | Denver, CO | $104,710 | $78,595 | $74,299 | 9,130 |
| 19 | Salt Lake City, UT | $98,800 | $74,856 | $74,212 | 2,890 |
| 20 | Philadelphia, PA | $99,410 | $75,713 | $73,827 | 6,160 |
| 21 | Minneapolis, MN | $104,740 | $76,916 | $73,377 | 3,350 |
| 22 | Boston, MA | $107,670 | $79,412 | $73,349 | 7,970 |
| 23 | Baltimore, MD | $100,500 | $75,122 | $71,896 | 2,540 |
| 24 | Chicago, IL | $100,160 | $74,479 | $71,895 | 9,760 |
| 25 | Portland, OR | $106,280 | $75,128 | $71,265 | 4,180 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Jose, CA — $130,280
- San Francisco, CA — $130,160
- Sacramento, CA — $130,150
- Seattle, WA — $116,480
- Riverside, CA — $115,120
- San Diego, CA — $108,900
- Los Angeles, CA — $108,640
- Boston, MA — $107,670
- New York, NY — $107,330
- Portland, OR — $106,280
- Minneapolis, MN — $104,740
- Denver, CO — $104,710
- Hartford, CT — $103,650
- Charlotte, NC — $102,370
- Washington, DC — $101,780
Civil Engineer salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $122,500 | +3.4% | $86,239 | $77,980 – $175,940 | 55,180 |
| Alaska | $114,730 | +7.0% | $89,543 | $78,940 – $163,420 | 1,670 |
| Washington | $110,000 | +4.7% | $86,215 | $81,840 – $160,670 | 12,590 |
| Massachusetts | $106,730 | +2.2% | $78,798 | $78,280 – $165,590 | 9,450 |
| Louisiana | $105,380 | +3.0% | $80,190 | $64,570 – $156,610 | 3,780 |
| Oregon | $105,250 | +2.1% | $74,494 | $77,560 – $166,060 | 4,890 |
| New Jersey | $104,660 | +0.9% | $77,981 | $74,640 – $169,220 | 6,900 |
| Nevada | $104,310 | +5.7% | $82,212 | $77,480 – $160,820 | 3,560 |
| New Mexico | $103,900 | −0.7% | $78,163 | $67,100 – $163,570 | 1,350 |
| District of Columbia | $103,880 | +1.7% | $76,048 | $78,780 – $164,200 | 1,650 |
| New York | $103,760 | +1.3% | $76,744 | $77,290 – $169,050 | 17,500 |
| Connecticut | $103,150 | +1.3% | $77,298 | $76,350 – $161,670 | 4,370 |
| Nebraska | $103,150 | +3.8% | $77,582 | $68,950 – $149,980 | 2,360 |
| South Carolina | $101,600 | +1.9% | $75,367 | $67,950 – $156,380 | 7,180 |
| Minnesota | $101,480 | +0.0% | $74,844 | $65,840 – $159,230 | 4,710 |
| Colorado | $101,420 | — | $76,425 | $76,810 – $165,230 | 13,290 |
| Kentucky | $100,930 | +0.7% | $76,419 | $65,660 – $143,680 | 2,690 |
| North Carolina | $100,730 | +7.6% | $76,183 | $70,760 – $160,520 | 12,810 |
| Maryland | $100,680 | +0.4% | $75,240 | $75,550 – $152,730 | 5,240 |
| Delaware | $100,220 | +0.4% | $74,061 | $74,560 – $153,100 | 920 |
| Mississippi | $100,170 | −3.6% | $76,025 | $49,840 – $162,240 | 1,770 |
| Illinois | $99,760 | +2.2% | $74,218 | $69,590 – $157,410 | 13,910 |
| Rhode Island | $99,300 | −11.5% | $75,573 | $77,800 – $151,020 | 1,270 |
| Alabama | $99,010 | +0.9% | $73,798 | $63,930 – $168,370 | 5,370 |
| Oklahoma | $98,760 | −0.8% | $74,409 | $66,550 – $153,470 | 2,180 |
| New Hampshire | $98,710 | +7.3% | $78,272 | $64,270 – $139,060 | 1,620 |
| South Dakota | $98,700 | +3.8% | $78,265 | $70,050 – $127,090 | 1,440 |
| Florida | $98,570 | +0.8% | $78,174 | $58,640 – $166,680 | 23,750 |
| Indiana | $98,270 | +3.4% | $75,093 | $64,200 – $140,130 | 4,030 |
| North Dakota | $98,190 | +2.1% | $77,251 | $63,290 – $143,740 | 1,380 |
| Idaho | $98,030 | +3.2% | $73,707 | $67,250 – $141,020 | 2,630 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,850 | +5.8% | $74,663 | $67,930 – $141,310 | 15,870 |
| Maine | $97,820 | +3.1% | $72,148 | $71,080 – $132,600 | 1,240 |
| Virginia | $97,120 | +0.9% | $72,384 | $74,000 – $150,710 | 11,350 |
| Kansas | $96,880 | +11.6% | $72,379 | $63,260 – $150,640 | 2,880 |
| Texas | $96,860 | +1.9% | $76,971 | $63,240 – $164,330 | 34,870 |
| Utah | $96,830 | +5.3% | $73,559 | $62,130 – $149,410 | 5,670 |
| Iowa | $96,430 | +2.0% | $73,656 | $64,900 – $135,480 | 2,500 |
| Ohio | $96,220 | +2.9% | $74,657 | $65,170 – $144,620 | 10,560 |
| Tennessee | $95,910 | −1.9% | $76,303 | $65,090 – $154,100 | 5,790 |
| Vermont | $95,600 | +11.5% | $72,235 | $68,720 – $129,390 | 770 |
| Wisconsin | $94,600 | +4.2% | $71,748 | $67,590 – $131,040 | 7,410 |
| Hawaii | $94,280 | −0.7% | $69,521 | $62,900 – $131,810 | 2,640 |
| Montana | $93,070 | +15.8% | $70,407 | $62,230 – $129,020 | 1,870 |
| Missouri | $92,750 | −0.3% | $70,658 | $64,950 – $139,210 | 5,760 |
| Michigan | $92,100 | +7.7% | $69,959 | $63,920 – $130,400 | 7,760 |
| Wyoming | $90,590 | −5.4% | $72,560 | $67,870 – $133,920 | 990 |
| Arizona | $89,660 | −4.1% | $69,873 | $63,740 – $138,030 | 5,940 |
| West Virginia | $86,930 | −1.4% | $66,730 | $51,640 – $132,960 | 1,300 |
| Arkansas | $85,020 | +3.8% | $65,539 | $44,810 – $132,460 | 1,870 |
| Georgia | $84,240 | +4.0% | $64,344 | $62,850 – $153,690 | 9,400 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 | Bachelor's degree | +12.4% |
| Agricultural Engineer | $98,590 | Bachelor's degree | +6.9% |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 | Bachelor's degree | +11.2% |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $106,220 | Bachelor's degree | +3.8% |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 | Bachelor's degree | +6.3% |
| Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer | $109,370 | Bachelor's degree | +7.6% |
| Marine Engineer and Naval Architect | $112,230 | Bachelor's degree | +6.7% |
| Materials Engineer | $112,860 | Bachelor's degree | +7.5% |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $115,160 | Bachelor's degree | +5.4% |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 | Bachelor's degree | +9.9% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make?
The national median salary for civil engineers is $100,840 a year ($48.48 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $68,240 and the top 10% earn over $163,220. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays civil engineers the most?
California has the highest median pay at $122,500. After taxes and local prices, Sacramento, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many civil engineers are there in the U.S.?
About 367,840 people work as civil engineers nationwide.
All 33 cities
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Hartford, CT
- Houston, TX
- Kansas City, MO
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
- Minneapolis, MN
- New York, NY
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, OR
- Raleigh, NC
- Riverside, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Washington, DC