The average salary for a civil engineer in the United States is around $77,710 per year.
Avg Salary
This is 25% above the national average. Updated in 2018.
Civil engineers earn an average yearly salary of $77,710. Wages typically start from $49,134 and go up to $122,906.
Civil engineer earnings by seniority
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Civil engineer salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $106,050 |
| Alaska | $107,080 |
| New Jersey | $97,060 |
| Texas | $92,300 |
| New York | $92,810 |
| Nevada | $87,850 |
| District of Columbia | $95,630 |
| Louisiana | $94,200 |
| Virginia | $88,070 |
| Massachusetts | $88,780 |
| Tennessee | $85,110 |
| Illinois | $87,257 |
| Connecticut | $89,960 |
| Colorado | $86,810 |
| Washington | $88,450 |
| Kentucky | $84,490 |
| Hawaii | $86,680 |
| Delaware | $87,410 |
| Oklahoma | $84,100 |
| Minnesota | $88,750 |
| Kansas | $82,340 |
| New Hampshire | $83,970 |
| Florida | $83,180 |
| New Mexico | $85,900 |
| Oregon | $85,860 |
| Rhode Island | $83,420 |
| Missouri | $78,250 |
| Idaho | $78,280 |
| North Carolina | $80,480 |
| Maryland | $78,620 |
| Mississippi | $80,350 |
| Wyoming | $75,950 |
| South Carolina | $77,200 |
| Nebraska | $80,750 |
| Iowa | $82,350 |
| North Dakota | $78,820 |
| Arizona | $79,410 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,594 |
| Michigan | $77,160 |
| West Virginia | $79,890 |
| Ohio | $78,380 |
| Maine | $79,560 |
| Georgia | $74,780 |
| Utah | $77,010 |
| Indiana | $74,714 |
| Arkansas | $75,480 |
| Wisconsin | $74,850 |
| Alabama | $73,415 |
| Montana | $74,260 |
| South Dakota | $73,660 |
| Vermont | $72,050 |
| Guam | $59,180 |
| Virgin Islands | $60,980 |
| Puerto Rico | $48,610 |
How much does a Civil Engineer earn?
The average starting salary for civil engineers is approximately the same as the average of all professions that require the same educational level. However, civil engineering provides greater opportunities for advancement than many other career choices. For those who like to innovate and meet society’s growing needs, civil engineering offers some outstanding opportunities for growth. These innovators end up becoming the leaders in the field, both in the positions that they hold and in the salaries they get paid.
The wide range of civil engineering salaries can be attributed to a number of factors. Since these statistics take into consideration all practicing civil engineers, the biggest factor is experience. Civil engineers who have just graduated from college don’t earn as much as experienced civil engineers. Experienced civil engineers are compensated for their ongoing education and what they’ve learned by practical application of their skills.
Education and certifications can also affect civil engineers’ salaries. A small percentage of civil engineers go on to receive their master’s degrees, and this added education results in higher salaries and more responsibility. Other certifications can prepare a civil engineer for management positions, which of course pay better.
Another major factor that can affect the salary of a civil engineer is their reputation. A civil engineer who has been responsible for the design of a major project, especially one that stands out, is in very high demand. These top civil engineers can negotiate for higher salaries and they have the ability to select which jobs they choose to work on.
How do civil engineer salaries compare to similar careers?
Civil engineers earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than product safety engineers but more than locomotive engineers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Product safety engineer salary | $89K |
| Computer systems engineer salary | $90K |
| Mechanical engineer salary | $87K |
| Water engineer salary | $88K |
| Industrial engineer salary | $87K |
| Civil engineer salary | $78K |
| Agricultural engineer salary | $77K |
| Ship engineer salary | $71K |
| Engineer salary | $61K |
| Locomotive engineer salary | $62K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)