Civil Engineer Salary in Wilmington, NC
Civil Engineers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median $94,450 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $72,016 take-home, or $6,001 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Wilmington, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,949
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,856
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,370
- North Carolina income tax$3,260
- Take-home pay$72,016
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.99% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Wilmington, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,530 | $33.43 | $55,479 | $4,623 |
| 25th percentile | $79,140 | $38.05 | $61,856 | $5,155 |
| Median (50th) | $94,450 | $45.41 | $72,016 | $6,001 |
| 75th percentile | $106,910 | $51.40 | $80,284 | $6,690 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,470 | $64.17 | $97,676 | $8,140 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $94,450 buys in Wilmington, NC
Prices in Wilmington, NC are 3.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 7% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $72,016 take-home pay has the buying power of $74,688 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 Wilmington, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Wilmington, NC ranks #80 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 |
| 80 | Wilmington, NC | $94,450 | $72,016 | $74,688 |
*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 North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $102,370
- Raleigh, NC — $101,440
- Greensboro, NC — $93,460
- Durham, NC — $93,940
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Wilmington, NC?
The median civil engineer salary in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $94,450 a year, or about $45.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,140 and $106,910.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Wilmington, NC?
On the median $94,450 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $72,016 a year ($6,001 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,260 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Wilmington, NC a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 3.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $74,688 would in a typical U.S. city. Wilmington, NC ranks #80 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Wilmington, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Wilmington, NC is $1,380 a month ($1,512 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.