Civil Engineer Salary in Seattle, WA
Civil Engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $116,480 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $90,774 take-home, or $7,564 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$16,796
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,222
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,689
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$90,774
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,140 | $39.49 | $66,615 | $5,551 |
| 25th percentile | $100,290 | $48.22 | $79,384 | $6,615 |
| Median (50th) | $116,480 | $56.00 | $90,774 | $7,564 |
| 75th percentile | $134,500 | $64.66 | $103,197 | $8,600 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,760 | $77.77 | $121,829 | $10,152 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $116,480 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $90,774 take-home pay has the buying power of $81,680 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Seattle, WA 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
Seattle, WA ranks #30 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 |
| 30 | Seattle, WA | $116,480 | $90,774 | $81,680 |
*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
- Olympia, WA — $108,240
- Spokane, WA — $100,510
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Seattle, WA?
The median civil engineer salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $116,480 a year, or about $56.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $100,290 and $134,500.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $116,480 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $90,774 a year ($7,564 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $81,680 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #30 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 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 Seattle, WA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $169,120
- Aerospace Engineer — $163,580
- Materials Engineer — $156,130
- Electrical Engineer — $140,210
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $138,890
- Engineers, All Other — $137,430
- Industrial Engineer — $131,210
- Environmental Engineer — $128,410
- Mechanical Engineer — $126,590
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologist and Technician — $125,160
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $100,610
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $98,180