Civil Engineers Salary
Civil Engineers in Tennessee make a median of $95,910 a year, or about $46.11 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $154K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $106,828 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 18.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $96K get you in Tennessee?
About civil engineers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Civil engineers pay in Tennessee 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 $1,215/month, 19.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level civil engineers (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $154K or more, a $89K spread from bottom to top.
Civil Engineers salary by metro in Tennessee
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $99K | +3% | 2,090 |
| Clarksville | $97K | +1% | 140 |
| Knoxville | $96K | +0% | 1,110 |
| Memphis | $96K | +0% | 780 |
| Chattanooga | $96K | -0% | 670 |
| Jackson | $93K | -3% | 100 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $88K | -9% | 200 |
| Johnson City | $82K | -14% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track civil engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a civil engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
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 $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for civil engineers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new civil engineers typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,905/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is civil engineer a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $96K locally vs. $101K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for civil engineers?
Tennessee pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do civil engineers make in Tennessee?
The median is $95,910 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,090, and experienced civil engineers can clear $154,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,322/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $106,828 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.