Civil Engineer Salary in Houston, TX
Civil Engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $100,950 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $79,848 take-home, or $6,654 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,379
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,259
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,464
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$79,848
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,250 | $32.33 | $56,140 | $4,678 |
| 25th percentile | $80,010 | $38.47 | $65,117 | $5,426 |
| Median (50th) | $100,950 | $48.53 | $79,848 | $6,654 |
| 75th percentile | $130,990 | $62.98 | $100,798 | $8,400 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,240 | $80.88 | $126,258 | $10,522 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,950 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $79,848 take-home pay has the buying power of $80,958 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 1.6× 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
Houston, TX ranks #39 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 |
| 39 | Houston, TX | $100,950 | $79,848 | $80,958 |
*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 Texas
- Beaumont, TX — $95,510
- Corpus Christi, TX — $95,160
- Austin, TX — $100,470
- San Antonio, TX — $88,290
- Dallas, TX — $96,920
- El Paso, TX — $79,090
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Houston, TX?
The median civil engineer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $100,950 a year, or about $48.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,010 and $130,990.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $100,950 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $79,848 a year ($6,654 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $80,958 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #39 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Petroleum Engineer — $169,870
- Chemical Engineer — $138,120
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $137,740
- Aerospace Engineer — $133,970
- Electrical Engineer — $131,070
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors — $130,280
- Engineers, All Other — $130,270
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $129,630
- Environmental Engineer — $127,340
- Mechanical Engineer — $125,350
- Materials Engineer — $123,250
- Industrial Engineer — $111,690