$ PaycheckDecoded

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.

Civil Engineer take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Civil Engineer
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

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

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-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 areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Kennewick, WA$121,370$94,214$94,139630
2Baton Rouge, LA$112,430$84,938$93,5651,140
3Mobile, AL$107,810$79,549$90,296790
4New Orleans, LA$108,240$82,116$88,6811,070
5Sioux Falls, SD$99,700$78,969$87,132540
6Tulsa, OK$102,080$76,595$85,856880
7Sacramento, CA$130,150$90,657$84,9885,590
8Beaumont, TX$95,510$76,021$84,425720
9Springfield, IL$105,750$78,135$84,247440
10Huntsville, AL$105,760$78,209$84,0311,010
11Lexington, KY$103,090$77,863$83,824600
12Anchorage, AK$112,740$88,143$83,6111,110
13Omaha, NE$102,020$76,839$83,6011,240
14Louisville, KY$102,650$77,569$83,341940
15Augusta, GA$103,010$76,574$83,3212,000
16Las Vegas, NV$106,110$83,478$83,2992,240
17Chattanooga, TN$95,630$76,106$83,208670
18Fargo, ND$95,530$75,432$83,010510
19Crestview, FL$101,820$80,460$82,922590
20Memphis, TN$96,100$76,436$82,922780
21Fresno, CA$119,720$84,592$82,8051,250
22Knoxville, TN$96,320$76,591$82,7391,110
23Albuquerque, NM$105,080$78,936$82,615680
24Oklahoma City, OK$98,960$74,541$82,449880
25Reno, NV$105,470$83,028$82,195730

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Civil Engineer salary by state

StateMedianTake-homeRangeJobs
California $122,500$86,239 $77,980 – $175,94055,180
Alaska $114,730$89,543 $78,940 – $163,4201,670
Washington $110,000$86,215 $81,840 – $160,67012,590
Massachusetts $106,730$78,798 $78,280 – $165,5909,450
Louisiana $105,380$80,190 $64,570 – $156,6103,780
Oregon $105,250$74,494 $77,560 – $166,0604,890
New Jersey $104,660$77,981 $74,640 – $169,2206,900
Nevada $104,310$82,212 $77,480 – $160,8203,560
New Mexico $103,900$78,163 $67,100 – $163,5701,350
District of Columbia $103,880$76,048 $78,780 – $164,2001,650
New York $103,760$76,744 $77,290 – $169,05017,500
Connecticut $103,150$77,298 $76,350 – $161,6704,370
Nebraska $103,150$77,582 $68,950 – $149,9802,360
South Carolina $101,600$75,367 $67,950 – $156,3807,180
Minnesota $101,480$74,844 $65,840 – $159,2304,710
Colorado $101,420$76,425 $76,810 – $165,23013,290
Kentucky $100,930$76,419 $65,660 – $143,6802,690
North Carolina $100,730$76,183 $70,760 – $160,52012,810
Maryland $100,680$75,240 $75,550 – $152,7305,240
Delaware $100,220$74,061 $74,560 – $153,100920
Mississippi $100,170$76,025 $49,840 – $162,2401,770
Illinois $99,760$74,218 $69,590 – $157,41013,910
Rhode Island $99,300$75,573 $77,800 – $151,0201,270
Alabama $99,010$73,798 $63,930 – $168,3705,370
Oklahoma $98,760$74,409 $66,550 – $153,4702,180
New Hampshire $98,710$78,272 $64,270 – $139,0601,620
South Dakota $98,700$78,265 $70,050 – $127,0901,440
Florida $98,570$78,174 $58,640 – $166,68023,750
Indiana $98,270$75,093 $64,200 – $140,1304,030
North Dakota $98,190$77,251 $63,290 – $143,7401,380
Idaho $98,030$73,707 $67,250 – $141,0202,630
Pennsylvania $97,850$74,663 $67,930 – $141,31015,870
Maine $97,820$72,148 $71,080 – $132,6001,240
Virginia $97,120$72,384 $74,000 – $150,71011,350
Kansas $96,880$72,379 $63,260 – $150,6402,880
Texas $96,860$76,971 $63,240 – $164,33034,870
Utah $96,830$73,559 $62,130 – $149,4105,670
Iowa $96,430$73,656 $64,900 – $135,4802,500
Ohio $96,220$74,657 $65,170 – $144,62010,560
Tennessee $95,910$76,303 $65,090 – $154,1005,790
Vermont $95,600$72,235 $68,720 – $129,390770
Wisconsin $94,600$71,748 $67,590 – $131,0407,410
Hawaii $94,280$69,521 $62,900 – $131,8102,640
Montana $93,070$70,407 $62,230 – $129,0201,870
Missouri $92,750$70,658 $64,950 – $139,2105,760
Michigan $92,100$69,959 $63,920 – $130,4007,760
Wyoming $90,590$72,560 $67,870 – $133,920990
Arizona $89,660$69,873 $63,740 – $138,0305,940
West Virginia $86,930$66,730 $51,640 – $132,9601,300
Arkansas $85,020$65,539 $44,810 – $132,4601,870
Georgia $84,240$64,344 $62,850 – $153,6909,400

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, Kennewick, WA 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 125 cities