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Civil Engineer salary

Verified

Updated March 2025

Civil engineers design and supervise infrastructure projects — roads, bridges, water systems, and buildings.

Median pay

$99,590

U.S. typical

Top earners

$160,990

90th percentile

Entry level

$77,500

0–2 yrs

Senior

$134,500

15+ yrs

The median civil engineer salary in the U.S. is about $99,590 per year. Entry-level pay starts near $65,920, while top earners (90th percentile) make $160,990 or more. Add your city and experience for a sharper, local number.

Median annual wage

$99,590

Mean

$107,050

10th pct · $65,92090th pct · $160,990

What civil engineers do

Plan and design infrastructure, analyze survey and structural data, manage construction, and ensure code compliance.

Civil engineers design and supervise infrastructure projects — roads, bridges, water systems, and buildings.

What affects civil engineer pay

  • ▹Professional Engineer (PE) license (often required for advancement)
  • ▹Public sector vs. private consulting
  • ▹Specialty (structural, geotechnical, transportation, water)
  • ▹Years of experience and project scale
  • ▹Metro and state cost of labor

Civil Engineer salary by experience

Pay typically climbs from about $77,500 for entry level engineers to $134,500+ at the principal / staff level.

Entry level 0–2 yrs
$77,500
Early career 3–5 yrs
$93,500
Mid level 6–9 yrs
$107,500
Senior 10–14 yrs
$121,500
Principal / Staff 15+ yrs
$134,500

Your actual offer depends on company, location, and specialization — run the calculator for a tailored range.

Highest-paying cities for civil engineers

Published civil engineer pay in the top-paying U.S. metro areas, vs the national benchmark.

15results

Civil Engineer salary by state

All 50 states with published civil engineer wage data, ranked highest to lowest. Open a state for its full metro-level breakdown.

RankStateMedian90th pct
1California$118,450$171,760
2Rhode Island$112,250$165,610
3Alaska$107,240$162,420
4Washington$105,090$155,010
5New Mexico$104,600$149,200
6Massachusetts$104,450$167,370
7Mississippi$103,940$208,000
8New Jersey$103,690$168,360
9Oregon$103,070$155,850
10New York$102,440$171,110
11Louisiana$102,350$149,590
12District of Columbia$102,170$172,780
13Connecticut$101,800$157,270
14Minnesota$101,440$150,730
15Maryland$100,320$149,410
16Kentucky$100,200$134,420
17Delaware$99,820$148,380
18South Carolina$99,680$155,050
19Oklahoma$99,540$145,880
20Nebraska$99,360$137,650
21Nevada$98,690$151,520
22Alabama$98,100$162,160
23Florida$97,810$168,880
24Tennessee$97,730$141,710
25Illinois$97,640$154,790
26Virginia$96,210$145,480
27North Dakota$96,160$139,880
28Wyoming$95,800$153,770
29South Dakota$95,110$127,610
30Texas$95,050$161,620
31Indiana$95,000$134,970
32Idaho$94,990$133,350
33Hawaii$94,970$131,090
34Maine$94,880$132,150
35Iowa$94,500$134,230
36North Carolina$93,590$145,010
37Arizona$93,500$136,600
38Ohio$93,480$133,600
39Missouri$93,020$135,720
40Pennsylvania$92,460$137,520
41New Hampshire$92,020$133,100
42Utah$92,000$139,190
43Wisconsin$90,770$132,280
44West Virginia$88,200$134,300
45Kansas$86,780$145,680
46Vermont$85,720$130,960
47Michigan$85,550$132,360
48Arkansas$81,930$127,730
49Georgia$81,030$154,600
50Montana$80,390$114,240

Figures are published state wage data, not modeled. States without published data for this occupation are not listed. See Source details for provenance.

Civil Engineer salary — frequently asked questions

How much does a civil engineer make?
The median civil engineer salary in the U.S. is about $99,590 per year. Most civil engineers earn between $65,920 and $160,990, and top earners (90th percentile) make $160,990 or more. These national figures come from published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS) wage data.
What is the highest civil engineer salary?
Top-earning civil engineers (90th percentile) make about $160,990 or more nationally. In the highest-paying metros, estimated pay can run even higher — for example around $130,310 in Sacramento. Metro figures are cost-of-labor estimates, not direct BLS metro data.
How much do entry-level civil engineers make?
Entry-level civil engineers (0–2 years) earn about $77,500 per year, rising to roughly $107,500 at mid-level and $134,500+ at the principal/staff level. These by-experience figures are modeled estimates based on typical engineering career progression.
Do civil engineers make good money?
Yes. The median civil engineer salary of $99,590 is 17% below the roughly $120,395 median across engineering occupations, and experienced civil engineers can earn $160,990 or more.
Which cities pay civil engineers the most?
Estimated civil engineer pay is highest in Sacramento ($130,310), San Jose ($129,260), and Redding ($127,130). These are cost-of-labor estimates that adjust the national baseline by local wage levels — not direct BLS metro wages.
How can a civil engineer earn more?
Civil Engineer pay rises most with professional engineer (pe) license (often required for advancement), public sector vs. private consulting, and specialty (structural, geotechnical, transportation, water). Moving to a higher-cost metro, specializing, and taking on senior or lead scope are the biggest levers — the salary calculator lets you model each one.
Source details

Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2051 (Civil Engineers), national.

Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →

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