Civil Engineer salary: how much does a civil engineer make?
A civil engineer in the US earns a median of $100,840 a year, about $48.48 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $68,240 and the top 10% earn over $163,220. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, California, has a median of $122,500.
Civil Engineer pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a civil engineer make an hour?
The median civil engineer earns $48.48 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $32.81 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78.47 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $68,240 | $32.81 |
| Lower 25% | $79,930 | $38.43 |
| Median (typical) | $100,840 | $48.48 |
| Upper 25% | $129,680 | $62.34 |
| Top 10% | $163,220 | $78.47 |
Civil Engineer salary by state
Median annual pay for civil engineers by state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $99,010 | $47.60 |
| Alaska | $114,730 | $55.16 |
| Arizona | $89,660 | $43.11 |
| Arkansas | $85,020 | $40.88 |
| California | $122,500 | $58.89 |
| Colorado | $101,420 | $48.76 |
| Connecticut | $103,150 | $49.59 |
| Delaware | $100,220 | $48.18 |
| District of Columbia | $103,880 | $49.94 |
| Florida | $98,570 | $47.39 |
| Georgia | $84,240 | $40.50 |
| Hawaii | $94,280 | $45.33 |
| Idaho | $98,030 | $47.13 |
| Illinois | $99,760 | $47.96 |
| Indiana | $98,270 | $47.25 |
| Iowa | $96,430 | $46.36 |
| Kansas | $96,880 | $46.58 |
| Kentucky | $100,930 | $48.52 |
| Louisiana | $105,380 | $50.66 |
| Maine | $97,820 | $47.03 |
| Maryland | $100,680 | $48.40 |
| Massachusetts | $106,730 | $51.31 |
| Michigan | $92,100 | $44.28 |
| Minnesota | $101,480 | $48.79 |
| Mississippi | $100,170 | $48.16 |
| Missouri | $92,750 | $44.59 |
| Montana | $93,070 | $44.75 |
| Nebraska | $103,150 | $49.59 |
| Nevada | $104,310 | $50.15 |
| New Hampshire | $98,710 | $47.46 |
| New Jersey | $104,660 | $50.32 |
| New Mexico | $103,900 | $49.95 |
| New York | $103,760 | $49.88 |
| North Carolina | $100,730 | $48.43 |
| North Dakota | $98,190 | $47.21 |
| Ohio | $96,220 | $46.26 |
| Oklahoma | $98,760 | $47.48 |
| Oregon | $105,250 | $50.60 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,850 | $47.04 |
| Rhode Island | $99,300 | $47.74 |
| South Carolina | $101,600 | $48.85 |
| South Dakota | $98,700 | $47.45 |
| Tennessee | $95,910 | $46.11 |
| Texas | $96,860 | $46.57 |
| Utah | $96,830 | $46.55 |
| Vermont | $95,600 | $45.96 |
| Virginia | $97,120 | $46.69 |
| Washington | $110,000 | $52.88 |
| West Virginia | $86,930 | $41.79 |
| Wisconsin | $94,600 | $45.48 |
| Wyoming | $90,590 | $43.55 |
Highest-paying states for civil engineers
- California: $122,500 median
- Alaska: $114,730 median
- Washington: $110,000 median
- Massachusetts: $106,730 median
- Louisiana: $105,380 median
The lowest published medians are in Georgia ($84,240), Arkansas ($85,020), West Virginia ($86,930), Arizona ($89,660), Wyoming ($90,590). The most civil engineer jobs are in California (55,180 jobs), Texas (34,870 jobs), Florida (23,750 jobs), New York (17,500 jobs), Pennsylvania (15,870 jobs).
How much does a civil engineer make a month?
At the median salary of $100,840, a civil engineer earns about $8,403 a month, $3,878 every two weeks or $1,939 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced civil engineer pay
New civil engineers typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $68,240 a year and the lowest 25% under $79,930. The top 25% earn over $129,680 and the top 10% over $163,220. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Civil Engineer salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Civil engineer | $100,840 |
| Aerospace engineer | $134,960 |
| Mechanical engineer | $104,110 |
| Electrical engineer | $120,630 |
| Chemical engineer | $125,040 |
| Biomedical engineer | $109,370 |
| Architect | $99,280 |
Civil engineering vs other engineering pay
| Engineering job (BLS May 2025) | Bottom 10% | Median | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace engineers | $86,700 | $134,960 | $205,890 |
| Chemical engineers | $79,420 | $125,040 | $182,880 |
| Electrical engineers | $76,550 | $120,630 | $184,300 |
| Biomedical engineers | $71,850 | $109,370 | $168,180 |
| Mechanical engineers | $73,990 | $104,110 | $164,340 |
| Civil engineers | $68,240 | $100,840 | $163,220 |
| Architects | $62,300 | $99,280 | $161,420 |
Civil Engineer take-home pay by state (2026)
2026 federal brackets and standard deduction, Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% plus 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 joint), and each state's 2026 income tax. Local income taxes, state disability or paid-leave payroll taxes and other deductions are not included. Estimate only, not tax advice.
Common questions
How much does a civil engineer make?
The US median is $100,840 a year ($48.48 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a civil engineer make an hour?
The median is about $48.48 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $32.81 and the top 10% about $78.47 an hour.
Which state pays civil engineers the most?
California has the highest median at $122,500, followed by Alaska ($114,730) and Washington ($110,000).
How much does a civil engineer make a month?
At the US median of $100,840 a year, about $8,403 a month or $3,878 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level civil engineer make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $68,240 a year and the lowest 25% under $79,930, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of civil engineers make?
The top 10% earn over $163,220 a year; the top 25% earn over $129,680.
How much does a civil engineer make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $122,500 in California, $96,860 in Texas, $98,570 in Florida, $103,760 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 17-2051, “Civil Engineers”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.