Civil Engineers Salary in U.S. (2024)
Civil Engineers in U.S. make a median of $99,590 a year, or about $47.88 an hour. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $161K for experienced workers.
Updated
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
So what does $100K get you in U.S.?
About civil engineers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, U.S.
Entry-level civil engineers (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K.Top earners bring in $161K or more - a $95K 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 U.S. numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
How much do civil engineers make in U.S.?
The median is $99,590 a year - that works out to about $47.88 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,920, and experienced civil engineers can clear $160,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in U.S.?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,537/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,412/month, which eats 21.6% 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 U.S.?
U.S. has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median civil engineers salary is worth about $99,590 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.