Civil Engineer Salary in Cleveland, OH
Civil Engineers in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn a median $96,190 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,637 take-home, or $6,220 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Cleveland, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,332
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,964
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,395
- Ohio income tax$1,863
- Take-home pay$74,637
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.75% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Cleveland, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,930 | $32.18 | $54,857 | $4,571 |
| 25th percentile | $78,790 | $37.88 | $62,874 | $5,240 |
| Median (50th) | $96,190 | $46.25 | $74,637 | $6,220 |
| 75th percentile | $117,970 | $56.72 | $89,360 | $7,447 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,320 | $65.54 | $101,474 | $8,456 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $96,190 buys in Cleveland, OH
Prices in Cleveland, OH are 6.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $74,637 take-home pay has the buying power of $79,466 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 less concentrated in Cleveland, OH than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Cleveland, OH ranks #46 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 |
| 46 | Cleveland, OH | $96,190 | $74,637 | $79,466 |
*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 Ohio
- Toledo, OH — $96,300
- Columbus, OH — $99,010
- Dayton, OH — $95,270
- Cincinnati, OH — $98,220
- Akron, OH — $94,450
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Cleveland, OH?
The median civil engineer salary in the Cleveland, OH metro area is $96,190 a year, or about $46.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,790 and $117,970.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Cleveland, OH?
On the median $96,190 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $74,637 a year ($6,220 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,863 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cleveland, OH a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 6.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $79,466 would in a typical U.S. city. Cleveland, OH ranks #46 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Cleveland, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cleveland, OH is $1,048 a month ($1,268 for two bedrooms) — 17% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cleveland, OH
- Aerospace Engineer — $143,020
- Engineers, All Other — $118,590
- Industrial Engineer — $99,300
- Electrical Engineer — $98,550
- Mechanical Engineer — $97,220
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $83,620
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $64,140
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $62,610
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $62,130