Civil Engineers Salary in Charleston, WV
Civil Engineers in Charleston, WV make a median of $84,460 a year, or about $40.61 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.72), which stretches that salary to about $95,198 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,036/month, or 19.4% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $84K get you in Charleston?
About civil engineers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston, WV
Entry-level civil engineers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K.Top earners bring in $133K or more - a $84K spread from bottom to top.
Civil Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $118K | +19% | 54,640 |
| Rhode Island | $112K | +13% | 1,200 |
| Alaska | $107K | +8% | 1,540 |
| Washington | $105K | +6% | 11,900 |
| New Mexico | $105K | +5% | 1,400 |
| Massachusetts | $104K | +5% | 9,460 |
| Mississippi | $104K | +4% | 2,050 |
| New Jersey | $104K | +4% | 6,780 |
| Oregon | $103K | +3% | 4,140 |
| New York | $102K | +3% | 17,000 |
| Louisiana | $102K | +3% | 3,170 |
| District of Columbia | $102K | +3% | 1,840 |
| Connecticut | $102K | +2% | 4,130 |
| Minnesota | $101K | +2% | 4,350 |
| Maryland | $100K | +1% | 5,120 |
Track civil engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Charleston numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
How much do civil engineers make in Charleston, WV?
The median is $84,460 a year - that works out to about $40.61 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,740, and experienced civil engineers can clear $132,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,364/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,036/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 19.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a civil engineers salary go in Charleston?
Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 88.72 (100 is the national average). That's below average - your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median civil engineers salary is worth about $95,198 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do civil engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.