Salary comparison
Civil Engineer vs Electrical Engineer salary
Electrical Engineers out-earn civil engineers by about $12,320 at the median. Here is the full side-by-side breakdown — pay range, top states, and experience.
Electrical Engineers earn more — a median of $111,910 versus $99,590 for civil engineers, a gap of about $12,320 (12%). Both figures are published national wage benchmarks.
Civil Engineer
Verified$99,590
Median annual wage
- Entry (10th pct)
- $65,920
- Top 10%
- $160,990
- Discipline
- Architecture & Engineering
Electrical Engineer
Verified$111,910
Median annual wage
- Entry (10th pct)
- $74,670
- Top 10%
- $175,460
- Discipline
- Architecture & Engineering
Civil Engineer vs Electrical Engineer — pay distribution
Percentile-by-percentile comparison of national annual wages.
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentileCivil Engineer | $65,920 |
| MedianCivil Engineer | $99,590 |
| 90th percentileCivil Engineer | $160,990 |
| 10th percentileElectrical Engineer | $74,670 |
| MedianElectrical Engineer | $111,910 |
| 90th percentileElectrical Engineer | $175,460 |
Pay by experience
Modeled progression from entry to principal level for each role (estimated from the national percentile curve).
Civil Engineer
Electrical Engineer
Where each role pays most
Highest-paying states by published median wage.
Civil Engineer
- California$118,450
- Rhode Island$112,250
- Alaska$107,240
- Washington$105,090
- New Mexico$104,600
Electrical Engineer
- New Mexico$143,850
- California$140,360
- District of Columbia$138,860
- New Hampshire$131,790
- Washington$130,730
Which should you choose?
On pay alone, electrical engineers earn about 12% more at the median — but location and specialization routinely move pay by more than that gap.
Pick civil engineer if…
Civil engineers design and supervise infrastructure projects — roads, bridges, water systems, and buildings.
- ▹Professional Engineer (PE) license (often required for advancement)
- ▹Public sector vs. private consulting
- ▹Specialty (structural, geotechnical, transportation, water)
Pick electrical engineer if…
Electrical engineers design, develop, and test electrical equipment and systems, from power generation to electronics.
- ▹Industry (semiconductors and power vs. general manufacturing)
- ▹Years of experience and seniority
- ▹Specialization (power, RF, embedded, controls)
Civil Engineer vs Electrical Engineer — frequently asked
Who earns more, civil engineers or electrical engineers?
What is the salary range for civil engineers vs electrical engineers?
Should I become a civil engineer or a electrical engineer?
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 →