Civil Engineers Salary 2025: $101,468 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$101,468 per year is the national median annual wage for civil engineers (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $49/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $81,790 to $205,330. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 17-2051.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $101,468
- Median hourly wage
- $49/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $111,944
- Total US employment
- 246,160
- Top-paying metro
- San Jose, CA, CA ($130,280)
- BLS SOC code
- 17-2051
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Civil Engineer (SOC 17-2051) is a high-paying U.S. occupation: national median wage of $101,468 across 246,160 reported workers per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.
Cross-city wage variation runs moderate — $81,490 to $130,280 median across 70 cities, about 60% above the floor. The spread is large enough to matter for relocation decisions but not large enough to dominate them. Civil Engineer is in the {{category}} category. BLS OEWS captures base wage but not bonuses, equity compensation, or commissions; total compensation for many roles runs meaningfully above the reported wage.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Civil Engineers salaries range from $81,490 to $130,280 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Civil Engineers Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $81,790 | $101,186 | $130,280 | $167,805 | $205,330 | $66,537 | 3,170 |
| San Francisco, CA | $90,860 | $106,580 | $130,160 | $166,445 | $202,730 | $72,472 | 10,990 |
| Sacramento, CA | $81,680 | $101,068 | $130,150 | $153,045 | $175,940 | $104,370 | 5,590 |
| Fresno, CA | $74,870 | $92,810 | $119,720 | $142,195 | $164,670 | $113,479 | 1,250 |
| Seattle, WA | $82,140 | $95,876 | $116,480 | $139,120 | $161,760 | $77,965 | 7,680 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $75,390 | $91,282 | $115,120 | $141,970 | $168,820 | $94,052 | 3,510 |
| Anchorage, AK | $78,940 | $92,460 | $112,740 | $136,030 | $159,320 | $88,772 | 1,110 |
| San Diego, CA | $79,410 | $91,206 | $108,900 | $137,665 | $166,430 | $67,978 | 5,620 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $72,860 | $87,172 | $108,640 | $139,655 | $170,670 | $65,446 | 16,340 |
| New Orleans, LA | $70,000 | $85,296 | $108,240 | $132,500 | $156,760 | $112,868 | 1,070 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $81,040 | $91,772 | $107,870 | $133,610 | $159,350 | $78,451 | 560 |
| Boston, MA | $79,580 | $90,816 | $107,670 | $137,515 | $167,360 | $70,789 | 7,970 |
| New York, NY | $78,250 | $89,882 | $107,330 | $141,865 | $176,400 | $57,334 | 15,590 |
| Portland, OR | $78,860 | $89,828 | $106,280 | $136,170 | $166,060 | $81,691 | 4,180 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $79,340 | $90,048 | $106,110 | $132,915 | $159,720 | $97,349 | 2,240 |
| Reno, NV | $77,460 | $88,664 | $105,470 | $133,585 | $161,700 | $99,033 | 730 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $74,780 | $86,900 | $105,080 | $130,185 | $155,290 | $111,787 | 680 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $78,480 | $88,984 | $104,740 | $132,205 | $159,670 | $98,625 | 3,350 |
| Denver, CO | $78,930 | $89,242 | $104,710 | $135,900 | $167,090 | $92,828 | 9,130 |
| Hartford, CT | $76,030 | $87,078 | $103,650 | $133,610 | $163,570 | $92,052 | 2,420 |
| Lexington, KY | $67,340 | $81,640 | $103,090 | $120,680 | $138,270 | $112,913 | 600 |
| Greenville, SC | $65,330 | $80,330 | $102,830 | $131,720 | $160,610 | $114,129 | 1,170 |
| Louisville, KY | $68,940 | $82,424 | $102,650 | $125,250 | $147,850 | $113,803 | 940 |
| Albany, NY | $75,990 | $86,582 | $102,470 | $125,995 | $149,520 | $101,758 | 1,470 |
| Charlotte, NC | $73,790 | $85,222 | $102,370 | $133,680 | $164,990 | $105,863 | 3,730 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $63,590 | $79,066 | $102,280 | $131,730 | $161,180 | $107,550 | 1,900 |
| Tulsa, OK | $73,310 | $84,818 | $102,080 | $127,005 | $151,930 | $117,604 | 880 |
| Omaha, NE | $72,080 | $84,056 | $102,020 | $123,030 | $144,040 | $111,133 | 1,240 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $71,380 | $83,560 | $101,830 | $129,000 | $156,170 | $113,019 | 2,000 |
| Washington, DC | $77,970 | $87,494 | $101,780 | $130,885 | $159,990 | $66,610 | 8,470 |
| Raleigh, NC | $74,170 | $85,078 | $101,440 | $132,575 | $163,710 | $101,643 | 4,640 |
| Houston, TX | $67,250 | $80,730 | $100,950 | $134,595 | $168,240 | $104,611 | 12,140 |
| Orlando, FL | $67,170 | $80,598 | $100,740 | $133,030 | $165,320 | $97,711 | 3,720 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $68,970 | $81,654 | $100,680 | $120,995 | $141,310 | $109,079 | 4,210 |
| Tampa, FL | $71,630 | $83,206 | $100,570 | $135,340 | $170,110 | $100,974 | 4,190 |
| Spokane, WA | $75,960 | $85,780 | $100,510 | $119,610 | $138,710 | $103,193 | 600 |
| Baltimore, MD | $75,990 | $85,794 | $100,500 | $122,590 | $144,680 | $88,004 | 2,540 |
| Austin, TX | $65,380 | $79,416 | $100,470 | $131,620 | $162,770 | $97,544 | 4,940 |
| Chicago, IL | $74,130 | $84,542 | $100,160 | $130,050 | $159,940 | $93,346 | 9,760 |
| Boise, ID | $72,630 | $83,382 | $99,510 | $117,685 | $135,860 | $97,463 | 1,610 |
| Rochester, NY | $68,830 | $81,082 | $99,460 | $124,365 | $149,270 | $107,061 | 890 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $75,830 | $85,262 | $99,410 | $123,685 | $147,960 | $83,961 | 6,160 |
| Providence, RI | $75,990 | $85,318 | $99,310 | $125,055 | $150,800 | $83,174 | 1,550 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $75,580 | $85,068 | $99,300 | $131,240 | $163,180 | $98,708 | 870 |
| Columbus, OH | $68,340 | $80,608 | $99,010 | $134,200 | $169,390 | $106,348 | 2,630 |
| Madison, WI | $72,980 | $83,392 | $99,010 | $116,525 | $134,040 | $95,385 | 1,530 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $66,020 | $79,196 | $98,960 | $130,565 | $162,170 | $114,405 | 880 |
| Kansas City, MO | $68,040 | $80,368 | $98,860 | $126,985 | $155,110 | $103,627 | 3,230 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $62,280 | $76,888 | $98,800 | $124,450 | $150,100 | $97,436 | 2,890 |
| Nashville, TN | $66,440 | $79,324 | $98,650 | $129,725 | $160,800 | $98,355 | 2,090 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $65,190 | $78,402 | $98,220 | $117,905 | $137,590 | $107,697 | 2,110 |
| Birmingham, AL | $67,340 | $79,372 | $97,420 | $132,895 | $168,370 | $107,765 | 1,070 |
| Des Moines, IA | $65,080 | $77,980 | $97,330 | $119,055 | $140,780 | $104,319 | 830 |
| Buffalo, NY | $72,020 | $82,036 | $97,060 | $123,680 | $150,300 | $104,930 | 930 |
| Dallas, TX | $61,720 | $75,800 | $96,920 | $127,545 | $158,170 | $93,103 | 8,010 |
| St. Louis, MO | $67,510 | $79,238 | $96,830 | $118,645 | $140,460 | $107,589 | 3,150 |
| Knoxville, TN | $63,860 | $76,844 | $96,320 | $128,335 | $160,350 | $106,667 | 1,110 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $67,850 | $79,186 | $96,190 | $113,615 | $131,040 | $98,758 | 2,330 |
| Memphis, TN | $66,440 | $78,304 | $96,100 | $114,195 | $132,290 | $114,405 | 780 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $67,750 | $78,586 | $94,840 | $129,680 | $164,520 | $90,756 | 1,100 |
| Greensboro, NC | $66,900 | $77,524 | $93,460 | $115,275 | $137,090 | $102,366 | 620 |
| Detroit, MI | $64,000 | $75,420 | $92,550 | $111,125 | $129,700 | $97,319 | 3,870 |
| Richmond, VA | $73,060 | $80,356 | $91,300 | $114,080 | $136,860 | $89,422 | 1,680 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $63,740 | $74,376 | $90,330 | $114,785 | $139,240 | $89,702 | 4,690 |
| San Antonio, TX | $64,490 | $74,010 | $88,290 | $111,095 | $133,900 | $96,492 | 2,230 |
| Atlanta, GA | $63,810 | $73,486 | $88,000 | $124,075 | $160,150 | $88,710 | 6,270 |
| Wichita, KS | $48,740 | $62,968 | $84,310 | $108,525 | $132,740 | $100,369 | 540 |
| Miami, FL | $54,990 | $66,494 | $83,750 | $124,815 | $165,880 | $68,034 | 6,850 |
| Little Rock, AR | $57,550 | $67,742 | $83,030 | $110,530 | $138,030 | $94,138 | 580 |
| Tucson, AZ | $61,850 | $69,706 | $81,490 | $106,960 | $132,430 | $85,419 | 760 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Civil Engineer is $101,468 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $111,944. Salaries range from $81,490 to $130,280 depending on city and cost of living.
Civil Engineer salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $101,468, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 246,160 Civil Engineer positions in the US across 70 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Civil Engineer positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.