North Carolina · SOC 17-2051
Civil Engineer Salary in North Carolina
VerifiedPublished wages for civil engineers in North Carolina, straight from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024 release — the full percentile distribution, employment concentration, and metro detail.
Civil Engineers in North Carolina earn a median of $93,590 per year ($100,500 mean), per BLS OEWS May 2024. The middle 50% earn $77,410–$117,620; the top 10% earn $145,010. That is 6% below the national median of $99,590, ranking North Carolina #36 of 50 states that publish this occupation.
Median wage
Verified$93,590
-6% vs national
Top 10% earn
$145,010
90th percentile
Employed in state
12,670
Reliability High (4.8% RSE)
Civil Engineer pay distribution — North Carolina vs national
Every figure below is a published BLS percentile. Bars share one scale, so the two distributions compare directly.
| Percentile | Annual wage | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentileentry / low | $65,160 | -1% |
| 25th percentile | $77,410 | -2% |
| Median50th percentile | $93,590 | -6% |
| 75th percentile | $117,620 | -8% |
| 90th percentiletop earners | $145,010 | -10% |
| Meanaverage | $100,500 | -6% |
Where civil engineers earn most in North Carolina
Metro areas in North Carolina where BLS publishes a wage for SOC 17-2051. Metros BLS withholds are not listed.
| Metro area | Median | Top 10% | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| CharlotteCharlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $100,040 | $140,180 | 3,420 |
| RaleighRaleigh-Cary, NC | $98,030 | $164,150 | 4,490 |
| AshevilleAsheville, NC | $97,570 | $132,530 | 370 |
| PinehurstPinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $95,040 | $127,320 | 50 |
| Virginia BeachVirginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $94,060 | $136,950 | 2,160 |
| FayettevilleFayetteville, NC | $93,340 | $129,480 | 250 |
| DurhamDurham-Chapel Hill, NC | $92,670 | $146,870 | 690 |
| WilmingtonWilmington, NC | $92,670 | $129,490 | 480 |
| BurlingtonBurlington, NC | $91,590 | $144,450 | 40 |
| GreenvilleGreenville, NC | $91,560 | $124,420 | 210 |
| GreensboroGreensboro-High Point, NC | $90,430 | $131,050 | 550 |
| HickoryHickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $88,530 | $150,140 | 120 |
| WinstonWinston-Salem, NC | $83,710 | $142,860 | 340 |
| Rocky MountRocky Mount, NC | $82,750 | $179,700 | 50 |
| GoldsboroGoldsboro, NC | $77,990 | $132,530 | 60 |
| JacksonvilleJacksonville, NC | $77,670 | $122,060 | 120 |
North Carolina engineering labor market
Concentration and pay level across all engineering occupations BLS publishes for this state.
Location quotient
1.12
Jobs per 1,000
2.59
State rank (pay)
#36 of 50
All engineering roles
$116,968
A location quotient of 1.12 means North Carolina employs civil engineers at roughly the national rate.
Frequently asked questions
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Source details
Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2051 (Civil Engineers), North Carolina (state).
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →