Civil Engineer Salary in Denver, CO
Civil Engineers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $104,710 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,595 take-home, or $6,550 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,206
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,492
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,518
- Colorado income tax$3,899
- Take-home pay$78,595
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,930 | $37.95 | $61,593 | $5,133 |
| 25th percentile | $84,410 | $40.58 | $65,207 | $5,434 |
| Median (50th) | $104,710 | $50.34 | $78,595 | $6,550 |
| 75th percentile | $135,030 | $64.92 | $98,326 | $8,194 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $167,090 | $80.33 | $118,828 | $9,902 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $104,710 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $78,595 take-home pay has the buying power of $74,299 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 2.4× 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
Denver, CO ranks #81 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 |
| 81 | Denver, CO | $104,710 | $78,595 | $74,299 |
*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 Colorado
- Colorado Springs, CO — $94,840
- Fort Collins, CO — $94,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Denver, CO?
The median civil engineer salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $104,710 a year, or about $50.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $84,410 and $135,030.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $104,710 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $78,595 a year ($6,550 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,899 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $74,299 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #81 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Petroleum Engineer — $174,580
- Aerospace Engineer — $156,190
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $144,660
- Engineers, All Other — $131,740
- Mechanical Engineer — $128,180
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $127,260
- Materials Engineer — $125,750
- Electrical Engineer — $119,020
- Industrial Engineer — $108,680
- Environmental Engineer — $107,880
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $104,090
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers — $93,100