Civil Engineer Salary in Salem, OR
Civil Engineers in the Salem, OR metro area earn a median $115,480 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $80,795 take-home, or $6,733 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Salem, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$16,576
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,160
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,674
- Oregon income tax$9,275
- Take-home pay$80,795
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.75% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Salem, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,220 | $37.61 | $57,843 | $4,820 |
| 25th percentile | $95,030 | $45.69 | $68,198 | $5,683 |
| Median (50th) | $115,480 | $55.52 | $80,795 | $6,733 |
| 75th percentile | $140,950 | $67.76 | $95,952 | $7,996 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $147,600 | $70.96 | $99,839 | $8,320 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $115,480 buys in Salem, OR
Prices in Salem, OR are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.10× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $80,795 take-home pay has the buying power of $77,951 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 Salem, OR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Salem, OR ranks #59 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 |
| 59 | Salem, OR | $115,480 | $80,795 | $77,951 |
*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 Oregon
- Portland, OR — $106,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Salem, OR?
The median civil engineer salary in the Salem, OR metro area is $115,480 a year, or about $55.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $95,030 and $140,950.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Salem, OR?
On the median $115,480 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $80,795 a year ($6,733 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,275 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Salem, OR a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $77,951 would in a typical U.S. city. Salem, OR ranks #59 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Salem, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Salem, OR is $1,201 a month ($1,560 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.