Tennessee Median
$95,910
per year
Hourly Rate
$46.11
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-5% vs US median
US median $100,840
State Rank
#40 of 51
5,790 employed here
How much does a Civil Engineer make in Tennessee?
Civil Engineers in Tennessee take home a median of $95,910 annually — roughly $46.11 an hour — which runs 5% below the national median of $100,840.
Within Tennessee, entry-level pay starts around $65,090 while the top 10% make $154,100 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $76,900 and $123,160 a year.
Civil Engineer salary range in Tennessee
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,090 | $31.29 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $76,900 | $36.97 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $95,910 | $46.11 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $123,160 | $59.21 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $154,100 | $74.09 |
|
How Tennessee compares
Tennessee ranks 40th out of 51 states and territories for Civil Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Civil Engineer salary in other states
California $122,500Alaska $114,730Washington $110,000Massachusetts $106,730Louisiana $105,380Oregon $105,250New Jersey $104,660Nevada $104,310New Mexico $103,900District of Columbia $103,880New York $103,760Connecticut $103,150Nebraska $103,150South Carolina $101,600Minnesota $101,480Colorado $101,420Kentucky $100,930North Carolina $100,730Maryland $100,680Delaware $100,220Mississippi $100,170Illinois $99,760Rhode Island $99,300Alabama $99,010Oklahoma $98,760New Hampshire $98,710South Dakota $98,700Florida $98,570Indiana $98,270North Dakota $98,190Idaho $98,030Pennsylvania $97,850Maine $97,820Virginia $97,120Kansas $96,880Texas $96,860Utah $96,830Iowa $96,430Ohio $96,220Vermont $95,600Wisconsin $94,600Hawaii $94,280Montana $93,070Missouri $92,750Michigan $92,100Wyoming $90,590Arizona $89,660West Virginia $86,930Arkansas $85,020Georgia $84,240
Working as a Civil Engineer in Tennessee
Nationally, about 368,000 people work as Civil Engineers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Tennessee pay ($95,910) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Civil Engineer make in Tennessee?
The median Civil Engineer salary in Tennessee is $95,910 per year, or about $46.11 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $65,090 at the entry level to $154,100 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Tennessee pay compare to the national average?
Tennessee pays Civil Engineers about 5% less than the national median of $100,840. Tennessee ranks 40th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Tennessee a good state for Civil Engineers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $95,910 a year. About 5,790 Civil Engineers are employed in Tennessee. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Tennessee?
The highest-paying occupations in Tennessee include Cardiologist ($610,080), Dermatologist ($433,630), Surgeon, All Other ($373,510), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Civil Engineer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.