Median Salary
$100,840
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$48.48
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$163,220
entry level starts ~$68,240
Pay Grade
A
excellent pay · 368,000 employed
How much does a Civil Engineer make?
The median pay for a Civil Engineer in the United States is $100,840 per year — about $48.48 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $68,240, while the most experienced Civil Engineers in the top 10% earn $163,220.
That is $39,450 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Civil Engineer salary range by percentile
Half of all Civil Engineers earn between $79,930 and $129,680 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,240 | $32.81 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $79,930 | $38.43 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $100,840 | $48.48 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $129,680 | $62.35 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,220 | $78.47 |
|
Highest-paying states for Civil Engineer
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Civil Engineer pay at $122,500 a year, followed by Alaska ($114,730) and Washington ($110,000). At the other end, Georgia posts the lowest median at $84,240 — a gap of $38,260 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Civil Engineer salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
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 $96,220Tennessee $95,910Vermont $95,600Wisconsin $94,600Hawaii $94,280Montana $93,070Missouri $92,750Michigan $92,100Wyoming $90,590Arizona $89,660West Virginia $86,930Arkansas $85,020Georgia $84,240
Workforce and education
About 368,000 people work as Civil Engineers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $108,670 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Civil Engineer make in the United States?
The median Civil Engineer salary in the United States is $100,840 per year, or about $48.48 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $68,240, while the top 10% of earners make $163,220 or more.
How does Civil Engineer pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A (excellent pay), the Civil Engineer median of $100,840 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Civil Engineers the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Civil Engineers, with a median salary of $122,500 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Civil Engineer?
Becoming a Civil Engineer typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Civil Engineers work in the United States?
About 368,000 people were employed as Civil Engineers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.