Civil Engineer Salary in Olympia, WA
Civil Engineers in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area earn a median $108,240 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $84,977 take-home, or $7,081 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Olympia, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,983
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,711
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,569
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$84,977
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Olympia, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,500 | $40.63 | $68,276 | $5,690 |
| 25th percentile | $92,730 | $44.58 | $74,066 | $6,172 |
| Median (50th) | $108,240 | $52.04 | $84,977 | $7,081 |
| 75th percentile | $123,590 | $59.42 | $95,740 | $7,978 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $142,050 | $68.29 | $108,357 | $9,030 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $108,240 buys in Olympia, WA
Prices in Olympia, WA are 3.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.17× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $84,977 take-home pay has the buying power of $81,969 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Olympia, WA has 2.8× 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
Olympia, WA ranks #27 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 |
| 27 | Olympia, WA | $108,240 | $84,977 | $81,969 |
*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 Washington
- Kennewick, WA — $121,370
- Seattle, WA — $116,480
- Spokane, WA — $100,510
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Olympia, WA?
The median civil engineer salary in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area is $108,240 a year, or about $52.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $92,730 and $123,590.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Olympia, WA?
On the median $108,240 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $84,977 a year ($7,081 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Olympia, WA a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 3.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $81,969 would in a typical U.S. city. Olympia, WA ranks #27 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Olympia, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Olympia, WA is $1,682 a month ($1,960 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.