Salary comparison
Civil Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer salary
Mechanical Engineers out-earn civil engineers by about $2,730 at the median. Here is the full side-by-side breakdown — pay range, top states, and experience.
Mechanical Engineers earn more — a median of $102,320 versus $99,590 for civil engineers, a gap of about $2,730 (3%). 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
Mechanical Engineer
Verified$102,320
Median annual wage
- Entry (10th pct)
- $68,740
- Top 10%
- $161,240
- Discipline
- Architecture & Engineering
Civil Engineer vs Mechanical 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 percentileMechanical Engineer | $68,740 |
| MedianMechanical Engineer | $102,320 |
| 90th percentileMechanical Engineer | $161,240 |
Pay by experience
Modeled progression from entry to principal level for each role (estimated from the national percentile curve).
Civil Engineer
Mechanical 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
Mechanical Engineer
- New Mexico$141,490
- District of Columbia$130,000
- Alaska$129,990
- California$126,370
- Massachusetts$122,670
Which should you choose?
On pay alone, mechanical engineers earn about 3% 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 mechanical engineer if…
Mechanical engineers design, develop, and test mechanical and thermal devices, from engines and tools to HVAC and manufacturing systems.
- ▹Industry (aerospace and oil & gas pay above automotive/consumer)
- ▹Professional Engineer (PE) license
- ▹Years of experience
Civil Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer — frequently asked
Who earns more, civil engineers or mechanical engineers?
What is the salary range for civil engineers vs mechanical engineers?
Should I become a civil engineer or a mechanical 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 →