SOC 172051

Civil Engineers

Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems. Includes architectural, structural, traffic, and geotechnical engineers. Excludes "Hydrologists" (19-2043).

National Median

$99,590

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$99,590

Entry Level (10th pct)

$65,920

Experienced (90th pct)

$160,990

Total Employed

355,410

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$65,920 - $78,790
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$78,790 - $128,290
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$128,290 - $160,990

Highest Paying Locations for Civil Engineers

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA

$130,310

+30.8% vs national

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

$129,260

+29.8% vs national

Redding, CA

$127,130

+27.7% vs national

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

$126,560

+27.1% vs national

Napa, CA

$122,820

+23.3% vs national

Civil Engineers Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$130,310	5,190
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$129,260	3,180
Redding, CA	$127,130	330
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$126,560	9,920
Napa, CA	$122,820	160
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$121,170	500
Walla Walla, WA	$119,080	210
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	$118,830	340
California	$118,450	54,640
Yuba City, CA	$117,740	410
Alaska nonmetropolitan area	$116,680	260
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$116,440	190
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$115,970	460
Vallejo, CA	$113,500	370
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$113,360	150
Salinas, CA	$112,510	250
Salem, OR	$112,430	420
Rhode Island	$112,250	1,200
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$112,020	400
Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area	$111,650	470
Fresno, CA	$110,920	1,240
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$110,920	680
Baton Rouge, LA	$110,460	880
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area	$109,960	150
Decatur, AL	$109,420	150
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$109,250	3,620
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$108,010	610
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$108,010	1,310
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$107,930	7,250
Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area	$107,750	70
Kingston, NY	$107,470	40
Alaska	$107,240	1,540
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$107,110	470
Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area	$107,040	220
Lake Charles, LA	$106,800	80
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$106,430	550
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$106,420	700
El Centro, CA	$106,380	110
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$106,350	6,390
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$106,130	14,570
Anchorage, AK	$105,830	1,040
Santa Fe, NM	$105,440	130
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$105,290	16,390
Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area	$105,180	80
Washington	$105,090	11,900
Albuquerque, NM	$104,820	630
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$104,750	8,300
Bellingham, WA	$104,730	230
New Mexico	$104,600	1,400
Fairbanks-College, AK	$104,600	220

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Civil Engineers?

The national median annual salary for Civil Engineers is $99,590, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Civil Engineerss earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Civil Engineerss is Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA, with a median salary of $130,310.

How much can an experienced Civil Engineers make?

Top-earning Civil Engineerss (90th percentile) make $160,990 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.