Civil Engineer Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Civil Engineers in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $90,330 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $70,328 take-home, or $5,861 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,043
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,600
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,310
- Arizona income tax$2,050
- Take-home pay$70,328
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.50% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,740 | $30.64 | $52,010 | $4,334 |
| 25th percentile | $77,750 | $37.38 | $61,792 | $5,149 |
| Median (50th) | $90,330 | $43.43 | $70,328 | $5,861 |
| 75th percentile | $108,510 | $52.17 | $82,663 | $6,889 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,240 | $66.94 | $103,164 | $8,597 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $90,330 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $70,328 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,070 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 Phoenix, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #118 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 |
| 118 | Phoenix, AZ | $90,330 | $70,328 | $68,070 |
*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 Arizona
- Tucson, AZ — $81,490
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median civil engineer salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $90,330 a year, or about $43.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,750 and $108,510.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $90,330 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $70,328 a year ($5,861 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,050 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,070 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #118 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 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 Phoenix, AZ
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $167,010
- Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer — $141,230
- Aerospace Engineer — $130,470
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $129,540
- Industrial Engineer — $109,020
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $103,900
- Engineers, All Other — $102,280
- Mechanical Engineer — $100,980
- Electrical Engineer — $99,160
- Environmental Engineer — $94,470
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $79,710
- Surveyor — $79,500