Civil Engineer Salary in Atlanta, GA
Civil Engineers in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $88,000 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,794 take-home, or $5,566 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,530
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,456
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,276
- Georgia income tax$3,944
- Take-home pay$66,794
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.19% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,810 | $30.68 | $50,762 | $4,230 |
| 25th percentile | $78,130 | $37.56 | $60,362 | $5,030 |
| Median (50th) | $88,000 | $42.31 | $66,794 | $5,566 |
| 75th percentile | $116,430 | $55.98 | $85,319 | $7,110 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,150 | $77.00 | $113,040 | $9,420 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $88,000 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $66,794 take-home pay has the buying power of $66,755 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Civil Engineer jobs are about as common in Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #121 of 125 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennewick, WA | $121,370 | $94,214 | $94,139 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $112,430 | $84,938 | $93,565 |
| 3 | Mobile, AL | $107,810 | $79,549 | $90,296 |
| 4 | New Orleans, LA | $108,240 | $82,116 | $88,681 |
| 5 | Sioux Falls, SD | $99,700 | $78,969 | $87,132 |
| 6 | Tulsa, OK | $102,080 | $76,595 | $85,856 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $130,150 | $90,657 | $84,988 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $95,510 | $76,021 | $84,425 |
| 121 | Atlanta, GA | $88,000 | $66,794 | $66,755 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 125 metros →
Civil Engineer salaries elsewhere in Georgia
- Augusta, GA — $103,010
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Atlanta, GA?
The median civil engineer salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $88,000 a year, or about $42.31 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,130 and $116,430.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $88,000 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $66,794 a year ($5,566 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,944 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $66,755 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #121 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $135,350
- Engineers, All Other — $122,570
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $103,330
- Industrial Engineer — $102,300
- Mechanical Engineer — $102,020
- Materials Engineer — $101,100
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $100,220
- Environmental Engineer — $96,820
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $78,610
- Mechanical Drafter — $75,360
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $74,180
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $67,850