Civil Engineers Salary
Civil Engineers in Utah make a median of $96,830 a year, or about $46.56 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $149K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.54), that's roughly $98,265 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,350/month, or 22.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Utah. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $97K get you in Utah?
About civil engineers
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What this looks like in Utah
Civil engineers pay in Utah tracks closely to the national median, $97K locally vs. $101K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,350/month, 22.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.54) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Utah
Entry-level civil engineers (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $149K or more, a $87K spread from bottom to top.
Civil Engineers salary by metro in Utah
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $99K | +2% | 2,890 |
| Ogden | $96K | -1% | 1,150 |
| St. George | $92K | -5% | 170 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $84K | -13% | 680 |
| Logan | $81K | -17% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track civil engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Utah numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a civil engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Utah?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 22.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,350/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for civil engineers in Utah?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new civil engineers typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,728/month. At HUD’s $1,350/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Utah?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $97K locally vs. $101K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Utah compare to the national average for civil engineers?
Utah pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $98K — below the national median.
How much do civil engineers make in Utah?
The median is $96,830 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,130, and experienced civil engineers can clear $149,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Utah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,000/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,350/month, which eats 22.5% 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 Utah?
Utah has a Regional Price Parity of 98.54 (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 $98,265 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.