Civil Engineers Salary
Civil Engineers in Washington make a median of $110,000 a year, or about $52.89 an hour. The range runs from $82K at the entry level to $161K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $107,833 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,830/month, or 24.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $110K get you in Washington?
About civil engineers
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What this looks like in Washington
Civil engineers pay in Washington tracks closely to the national median, $110K locally vs. $101K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,830/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level civil engineers (10th percentile) start around $82K. Mid-career wages sit at $110K. Top earners bring in $161K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Civil Engineers salary by metro in Washington
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walla Walla | $123K | +12% | 190 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $121K | +10% | 630 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $116K | +6% | 7,680 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $116K | +6% | 300 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $108K | -2% | 860 |
| Bellingham | $108K | -2% | 220 |
| Longview-Kelso | $103K | -7% | 60 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $101K | -8% | 150 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $101K | -9% | 600 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $101K | -9% | 180 |
| Yakima | $101K | -9% | 210 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a civil engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
Yes — at the median salary of $110K, rent takes 25.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for civil engineers in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new civil engineers typically earn — is $82K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,910/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Washington?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $110K locally vs. $101K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Washington compare to the national average for civil engineers?
Washington pays $110K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do civil engineers make in Washington?
The median is $110,000 a year, that works out to about $53 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,840, and experienced civil engineers can clear $160,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $110K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,148/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 25.6% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median civil engineers salary is worth about $107,833 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.