How to Become a Civil Engineer
Civil Engineers earn a median salary of $100,840/year in the United States. Most positions require Bachelor's degree. Job growth is projected at 5% over the next decade. The highest-paying states include California, Alaska, Washington.
Where Civil Engineers have the most money left over after rent
Median pay minus estimated federal + state + FICA taxes, minus 12 months of rent at HUD's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent. Darker green means more money left over each year. Hover any state for the breakdown.
View map data as a table
| State | Median (nominal) | Rent/mo (2BR) | Left after rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $115K | $1,643 | $69K |
| South Dakota | $99K | $1,017 | $66K |
| Louisiana | $105K | $1,191 | $64K |
| Nevada | $104K | $1,501 | $64K |
| New Mexico | $104K | $1,119 | $64K |
| Washington | $110K | $1,830 | $64K |
| Nebraska | $103K | $1,113 | $63K |
| North Dakota | $98K | $1,034 | $63K |
| Kentucky | $101K | $1,110 | $62K |
| Indiana | $98K | $1,144 | $61K |
| Mississippi | $100K | $1,077 | $61K |
| Oklahoma | $99K | $1,081 | $61K |
| Tennessee | $96K | $1,215 | $61K |
| Ohio | $96K | $1,188 | $60K |
| South Carolina | $102K | $1,263 | $60K |
| Texas | $97K | $1,415 | $60K |
| Wyoming | $91K | $1,008 | $60K |
| Alabama | $99K | $1,085 | $60K |
| Idaho | $98K | $1,136 | $59K |
| Kansas | $97K | $1,066 | $59K |
| New Hampshire | $99K | $1,528 | $59K |
| North Carolina | $101K | $1,284 | $59K |
| Florida | $99K | $1,658 | $58K |
| Iowa | $96K | $1,064 | $58K |
| Minnesota | $101K | $1,384 | $58K |
| Pennsylvania | $98K | $1,351 | $58K |
| Illinois | $100K | $1,407 | $57K |
| Missouri | $93K | $1,097 | $57K |
| Wisconsin | $95K | $1,202 | $57K |
| California | $123K | $2,471 | $57K |
| Delaware | $100K | $1,448 | $56K |
| Maine | $98K | $1,281 | $56K |
| Montana | $93K | $1,129 | $56K |
| Rhode Island | $99K | $1,544 | $56K |
| Utah | $97K | $1,350 | $56K |
| Connecticut | $103K | $1,679 | $56K |
| Oregon | $105K | $1,555 | $55K |
| Michigan | $92K | $1,272 | $54K |
| Vermont | $96K | $1,498 | $54K |
| West Virginia | $87K | $1,008 | $54K |
| Maryland | $101K | $1,795 | $53K |
| New Jersey | $105K | $2,067 | $53K |
| New York | $104K | $1,917 | $53K |
| Colorado | $101K | $1,832 | $53K |
| Arkansas | $85K | $1,021 | $53K |
| Virginia | $97K | $1,646 | $52K |
| Arizona | $90K | $1,437 | $52K |
| District of Columbia | $104K | $2,146 | $50K |
| Massachusetts | $107K | $2,347 | $50K |
| Georgia | $84K | $1,434 | $46K |
| Hawaii | $94K | $2,240 | $41K |
Education and training
Civil engineers require a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from an ABET-accredited program (4 years). Coursework covers structural analysis, geotechnical engineering, hydraulics, transportation engineering, environmental engineering, construction materials, and engineering economics. Senior design projects (capstone) require applying classroom knowledge to real-world engineering problems.
A master's degree is valuable for specialization (structural, geotechnical, water resources, transportation, environmental) and is often required for advanced analytical roles. About 25% of civil engineers hold graduate degrees.
Internships (called "co-ops" at some universities) during the summer between junior and senior year are practically mandatory for employment. Civil engineering firms recruit from their intern pools first. An intern who performs well is typically offered a full-time position before graduation. Students who skip internships face a significantly harder job search because firms rely on the intern-to-hire pipeline as their primary talent source.
Licensing and certification
The PE (Professional Engineer) license is the defining credential for civil engineers. The path: pass the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam during or shortly after college → work 4 years under a licensed PE → pass the PE exam in your specialty discipline. The PE license allows you to sign and seal engineering drawings, which is legally required for most infrastructure projects.
The FE exam is an 8-hour, 110-question computer-based exam. The PE exam is an 8-hour exam with discipline-specific content (structural, geotechnical, transportation, water resources, environmental, or construction). Pass rates vary: 60-75% for FE, 50-65% for PE.
Getting your PE is not optional for career advancement in civil engineering, without it, you cannot progress to project manager or principal engineer at most firms.
What the day-to-day looks like
Civil engineers design, build, and maintain infrastructure: roads, bridges, dams, water systems, wastewater treatment plants, buildings (structural systems), and airports. The work splits between office (analysis, design, drawings, specifications, report writing) and field (site visits, construction observation, soil testing, surveying).
Public sector civil engineers (city, county, state, federal agencies) review development plans, manage capital improvement programs, and oversee public infrastructure. The work is steady, the hours are predictable (40/week), and the benefits are strong, but salaries run 10-20% below private sector.
Private sector civil engineers at consulting firms work on projects for public and private clients. Hours run 40-50/week normally, with spikes during design deadlines and construction observation phases. Client development and proposal writing become part of the job as you advance.
Career progression
EIT (Engineer-in-Training) → staff engineer → project engineer → project manager (requires PE) → associate/principal → firm owner/partner. The PE license is the hard gate between early career and management-track positions.
Civil engineers with PE licenses and 15+ years of experience who become principals at mid-size firms earn $120,000-$180,000. Firm owners/partners of successful consulting firms can earn significantly more.
Salary progression
Highest paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $123K | 55,180 |
| Alaska | $115K | 1,670 |
| Washington | $110K | 12,590 |
| Massachusetts | $107K | 9,450 |
| Louisiana | $105K | 3,780 |
| Oregon | $105K | 4,890 |
| New Jersey | $105K | 6,900 |
| Nevada | $104K | 3,560 |
| New Mexico | $104K | 1,350 |
| District of Columbia | $104K | 1,650 |
Where the jobs are
The highest-paying state for civil engineerss is California at $122,500/year, that's $21,660 above the national median. But higher pay often comes with higher costs. Before assuming the top-paying state is the best financial move, check the full affordability breakdown for California.
The pay gap between the highest and lowest-paying states is $38,260. That spread sounds dramatic, but cost-of-living differences offset much of it. A civil engineers making $84,240 in Georgia may have more purchasing power than one making $122,500 in California if rent and local prices differ enough.
By employment volume, the states with the most civil engineers jobs are California (55,180 workers), Texas (34,870 workers), Florida (23,750 workers). High employment numbers mean more job openings, more employer competition for talent, and usually more leverage when negotiating salary. States with fewer workers in the field may pay less but also have less competition for positions.
For the full state-by-state comparison with salary percentiles, cost-of-living adjustment, and rent affordability for civil engineerss, see the complete salary data page.
Salary negotiation
The PE license is the single biggest salary lever in civil engineering, it's worth $10,000-$20,000/year at every career stage. Beyond that: project management experience, client relationship ownership (bringing in business), and specialization in high-demand areas (bridge inspection, seismic design, water/wastewater) command premiums. Public sector jobs are typically non-negotiable (civil service pay scales), but private consulting positions have meaningful negotiation room.
What the data doesn't tell you
Civil engineering salaries lag behind software engineering and some other engineering disciplines, but the career offers something most tech careers don't: the ability to drive past something you designed and say "I built that." The tangible impact of civil engineering work, bridges, roads, water systems that serve millions, is a form of compensation that doesn't show up in BLS data.
See the full salary picture
Percentile breakdown, cost of living, rent burden, and purchasing power for civil engineerss in every metro.
View Civil Engineers salaries →Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineers make?▼
The median civil engineers salary in the United States is $100,840 per year ($48/hour). Entry-level positions start around $68,240, while experienced professionals earn up to $163,220.
What education do you need to become a civil engineer?▼
Most civil engineers positions require Bachelor's degree. Requirements vary by state and employer. Check with your state's licensing board for specific requirements.
What is the job outlook for civil engineers?▼
Employment of civil engineers is projected to grow 5% over the next decade, with approximately 1,600 annual openings. This is about average for all occupations.
What are the highest paying states for civil engineers?▼
The highest paying states for civil engineers are California ($122,500), Alaska ($114,730), Washington ($110,000), Massachusetts ($106,730), Louisiana ($105,380). Salaries vary significantly by location due to cost of living and local demand.