Civil Engineer Salary in St. Louis, MO
Civil Engineers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $96,830 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,336 take-home, or $6,111 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,473
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,003
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,404
- Missouri income tax$3,614
- Take-home pay$73,336
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Civil Engineer pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,510 | $32.46 | $54,088 | $4,507 |
| 25th percentile | $78,160 | $37.58 | $61,079 | $5,090 |
| Median (50th) | $96,830 | $46.55 | $73,336 | $6,111 |
| 75th percentile | $123,120 | $59.19 | $90,569 | $7,547 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $140,460 | $67.53 | $101,606 | $8,467 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $96,830 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $73,336 take-home pay has the buying power of $77,125 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #62 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 |
| 62 | St. Louis, MO | $96,830 | $73,336 | $77,125 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $98,860
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in St. Louis, MO?
The median civil engineer salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $96,830 a year, or about $46.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,160 and $123,120.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $96,830 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $73,336 a year ($6,111 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,614 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $77,125 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #62 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Electrical Engineer — $123,960
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $112,490
- Engineers, All Other — $103,880
- Industrial Engineer — $102,230
- Mechanical Engineer — $100,340
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $98,800
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $71,900
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $67,850
- Surveyor — $65,560
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $62,930
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $62,430