Salary comparison
Civil Engineer vs Engineering Manager salary
Engineering Managers out-earn civil engineers by about $68,150 at the median. Here is the full side-by-side breakdown — pay range, top states, and experience.
Engineering Managers earn more — a median of $167,740 versus $99,590 for civil engineers, a gap of about $68,150 (68%). 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
Engineering Manager
Verified$167,740
Median annual wage
- Entry (10th pct)
- $111,450
- Top 10%
- $239,200
- Discipline
- Architecture & Engineering
Civil Engineer vs Engineering Manager — 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 percentileEngineering Manager | $111,450 |
| MedianEngineering Manager | $167,740 |
| 90th percentileEngineering Manager | $239,200 |
Pay by experience
Modeled progression from entry to principal level for each role (estimated from the national percentile curve).
Civil Engineer
Engineering Manager
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
Engineering Manager
- New Mexico$215,730
- California$201,810
- Washington$181,080
- Massachusetts$178,800
- District of Columbia$176,950
Which should you choose?
On pay alone, engineering managers earn about 68% 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 engineering manager if…
Engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architecture and engineering, leading teams and owning technical delivery.
- ▹Team size and scope of responsibility
- ▹Industry (tech and oil & gas pay above average)
- ▹Years of management experience
Civil Engineer vs Engineering Manager — frequently asked
Who earns more, civil engineers or engineering managers?
What is the salary range for civil engineers vs engineering managers?
Should I become a civil engineer or a engineering manager?
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 →