Civil Engineers Salary
Civil Engineers in Ohio make a median of $96,220 a year, or about $46.26 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $145K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $105,216 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 19.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $96K get you in Ohio?
About civil engineers
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What this looks like in Ohio
Civil engineers pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $96K locally vs. $101K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 19.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level civil engineers (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $145K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Civil Engineers salary by metro in Ohio
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandusky | $101K | +5% | 30 |
| Columbus | $99K | +3% | 2,630 |
| Lima | $99K | +3% | 90 |
| Cincinnati | $98K | +2% | 2,110 |
| Toledo | $96K | +0% | 770 |
| Cleveland | $96K | -0% | 1,770 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $95K | -1% | 850 |
| Akron | $94K | -2% | 800 |
| Canton-Massillon | $92K | -4% | 190 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $91K | -5% | 160 |
| Mansfield | $85K | -12% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a civil engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 19.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for civil engineers in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new civil engineers typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,910/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is civil engineer a high-paying job in Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $96K locally vs. $101K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for civil engineers?
Ohio pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $105K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do civil engineers make in Ohio?
The median is $96,220 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,170, and experienced civil engineers can clear $144,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,176/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 19.2% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $105,216 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.