Civil Engineer salary

Q: How much does a civil engineer make?

The median civil engineer salary in the U.S. is about $95,890 per year. Most civil engineers earn between $63,130 and $150,640, and top earners (90th percentile) make $150,640 or more. These national figures come from published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS) wage data.

Q: What is the highest civil engineer salary?

Top-earning civil engineers (90th percentile) make about $150,640 or more nationally. In the highest-paying metros, estimated civil engineer pay can run even higher — for example around $141,917 (median) in San Jose. Metro figures are cost-of-labor estimates, not direct BLS metro data.

Q: How much do entry-level civil engineers make?

Entry-level civil engineers (0–2 years) earn about $75,000 per year, rising to roughly $103,500 at mid-level and $129,500+ at the principal/staff level. These by-experience figures are modeled estimates based on typical engineering career progression.

Q: Do civil engineers make good money?

Yes. The median civil engineer salary of $95,890 is 18% below the roughly $116,537 median across engineering occupations, and experienced civil engineers can earn $150,640 or more.

Q: Which cities pay civil engineers the most?

Estimated civil engineer pay is highest in San Jose ($141,917), San Francisco ($136,164), Seattle ($124,657). These are cost-of-labor estimates that adjust the national baseline by local wage levels — not direct BLS metro wages.

Verified

Updated January 2025

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

Median pay

$95,890

U.S. typical

Top earners

$150,640

90th percentile

Entry level

$75,000

0–2 yrs

Senior

$129,500

15+ yrs

The median civil engineer salary in the U.S. is about $95,890 per year. Entry-level pay starts near $63,130, while top earners (90th percentile) make $150,640 or more. Add your city and experience for a sharper, local number.

Median annual wage

$95,890

Mean

$101,190

10th pct · $63,13090th pct · $150,640

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 $75,000 for entry level engineers to $129,500+ at the principal / staff level.

Entry level 0–2 yrs

$75,000

Early career 3–5 yrs

$90,000

Mid level 6–9 yrs

$103,500

Senior 10–14 yrs

$117,000

Principal / Staff 15+ yrs

$129,500

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

Highest-paying cities for civil engineers

Estimated civil engineer pay in the top-paying metros, vs the national median.

8results

Metro	State	Median	90th pct	vs U.S.	Data
San Jose California	CA	$141,917	$222,947	+48%	Estimate
San Francisco California	CA	$136,164	$213,909	+42%	Estimate
Seattle Washington	WA	$124,657	$195,832	+30%	Estimate
New York City New York	NY	$120,821	$189,806	+26%	Estimate
Boston Massachusetts	MA	$116,986	$183,781	+22%	Estimate
Washington, D.C. District of Columbia	DC	$115,068	$180,768	+20%	Estimate
Los Angeles California	CA	$113,150	$177,755	+18%	Estimate
San Diego California	CA	$110,273	$173,236	+15%	Estimate

Civil Engineer salary by state

State	Est. median	Est. 90th pct
California	$118,904	$186,794
Texas	$99,726	$156,666
New York	$109,315	$171,730
Washington	$113,150	$177,755
Massachusetts	$111,232	$174,742

State figures are estimates — open a state for its full city-by-city breakdown.

Civil Engineer salary — frequently asked questions

How much does a civil engineer make?

The median civil engineer salary in the U.S. is about $95,890 per year. Most civil engineers earn between $63,130 and $150,640, and top earners (90th percentile) make $150,640 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 $150,640 or more nationally. In the highest-paying metros, estimated pay can run even higher — for example around $141,917 in San Jose. 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 $75,000 per year, rising to roughly $103,500 at mid-level and $129,500+ 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 $95,890 is 18% below the roughly $116,537 median across engineering occupations, and experienced civil engineers can earn $150,640 or more.

Which cities pay civil engineers the most?

Estimated civil engineer pay is highest in San Jose ($141,917), San Francisco ($136,164), and Seattle ($124,657). 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

National wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2051. Median and 90th-percentile annual wages.

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