Civil Engineer Salary in Durham, NC
Civil Engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $93,940 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $71,677 take-home, or $5,973 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,837
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,824
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,362
- North Carolina income tax$3,239
- Take-home pay$71,677
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.99% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,970 | $32.68 | $54,444 | $4,537 |
| 25th percentile | $79,240 | $38.10 | $61,922 | $5,160 |
| Median (50th) | $93,940 | $45.16 | $71,677 | $5,973 |
| 75th percentile | $125,730 | $60.45 | $92,695 | $7,725 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,990 | $79.32 | $117,962 | $9,830 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $93,940 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $71,677 take-home pay has the buying power of $73,461 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 Durham, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #91 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 |
| 91 | Durham, NC | $93,940 | $71,677 | $73,461 |
*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 North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $102,370
- Raleigh, NC — $101,440
- Greensboro, NC — $93,460
- Wilmington, NC — $94,450
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Durham, NC?
The median civil engineer salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $93,940 a year, or about $45.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,240 and $125,730.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $93,940 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $71,677 a year ($5,973 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,239 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $73,461 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #91 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- Electrical Engineer — $129,030
- Engineers, All Other — $127,710
- Industrial Engineer — $102,890
- Mechanical Engineer — $101,650