Civil engineering builds the physical infrastructure of society—roads, bridges, buildings, water systems, and more. It’s one of the oldest and most stable engineering disciplines, with compensation that rewards professional licensure and specialization.
Pay at a Glance (BLS Data)
Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates for civil engineers, across all industries:
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $68,240 | $32.81 |
| 25th | $79,930 | $38.43 |
| 50th (median) | $100,840 | $48.48 |
| 75th | $129,680 | $62.35 |
| 90th | $163,220 | $78.47 |
| Average (mean) | $108,670 | $52.25 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for Civil Engineers (all industries). Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. “Not published” means BLS withheld the estimate, usually because wages are above its top reporting limit.
Civil Engineer Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Level | Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| 0-3 years | Entry / EIT (Engineer in Training) | $58,000-$76,000 |
| 3-7 years | Project Engineer | $75,000-$100,000 |
| 7-12 years | Senior Engineer (often PE required) | $98,000-$130,000 |
| 12+ years | Principal / Senior PE | $125,000-$165,000 |
| Management | Project Manager / Director | $130,000-$180,000 |
Salary by Specialization
| Specialization | Notes |
|---|---|
| Structural Engineer | High PE requirement; complex analysis |
| Transportation Engineer | Strong with federal infrastructure funding |
| Environmental Engineer | Site remediation; overlaps with chemical EE |
| Geotechnical Engineer | Foundation design, slope stability |
| Water Resources / Hydraulics | Utilities and government demand |
| Coastal / Marine Engineer | Specialized; fewer practitioners |
| Construction Engineer | Project management overlap |
| Materials Engineer | Pavements, soils, materials testing |
Government vs. Private Sector Pay
| Sector | Median Salary | Benefits | Job Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal government (GS scale) | $75,000-$115,000 | Excellent (pension, FEHB) | Very high |
| State DOT | $68,000-$105,000 | Strong (pension, benefits) | High |
| Local / county government | $65,000-$98,000 | Moderate to strong | High |
| Private engineering firm (consulting) | $80,000-$130,000 | Standard benefits | Moderate |
| Construction company (private) | $85,000-$125,000 | Variable | Moderate |
PE licensure is consistently required for advancement in both sectors. Assistant/junior engineer titles are the last step before PE requirement kicks in.
PE License Impact on Pay
| Licensure Status | Salary Range | Advancement |
|---|---|---|
| BS, no FE | $58,000-$72,000 (entry only) | Limited |
| FE passed (EIT) | $63,000-$80,000 | Working toward PE |
| PE licensed | $85,000-$130,000 | Required for senior/project lead roles |
| PE + significant project history | $115,000-$160,000 | Management and principal roles |
| SE (Structural Engineer license) | $110,000-$155,000 | Required for seismic/structural stamping in CA and WA |
Civil Engineer Salary by State
| Rank | State | Avg Salary | Starting Salary | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $124,540 | $77,980 | $122,500 |
| 2 | Alaska | $118,830 | $78,940 | $114,730 |
| 3 | New York | $117,880 | $77,290 | $103,760 |
| 4 | Washington | $117,670 | $81,840 | $110,000 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $117,330 | $78,280 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Oregon | $116,160 | $77,560 | $105,250 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $115,810 | $78,780 | $103,880 |
| 8 | Nevada | $114,970 | $77,480 | $104,310 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $114,750 | $74,640 | $104,660 |
| 10 | Colorado | $114,460 | $76,810 | $101,420 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $111,300 | $67,100 | $103,900 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $110,920 | $76,350 | $103,150 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $110,560 | $77,800 | $99,300 |
| 14 | Louisiana | $108,250 | $64,570 | $105,380 |
| 15 | Delaware | $107,650 | $74,560 | $100,220 |
| 16 | Alabama | $107,550 | $63,930 | $99,010 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $107,500 | $65,840 | $101,480 |
| 18 | Maryland | $107,320 | $75,550 | $100,680 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $107,000 | $67,950 | $101,600 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $106,860 | $68,950 | $103,150 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $105,570 | $66,550 | $98,760 |
| 22 | Illinois | $105,390 | $69,590 | $99,760 |
| 23 | Virginia | $105,340 | $74,000 | $97,120 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $105,310 | $65,660 | $100,930 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $104,840 | $49,840 | $100,170 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $104,760 | $70,760 | $100,730 |
| 27 | Texas | $104,250 | $63,240 | $96,860 |
| 28 | Florida | $103,810 | $58,640 | $98,570 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $103,340 | $65,090 | $95,910 |
| 30 | Idaho | $101,160 | $67,250 | $98,030 |
| 31 | Kansas | $100,810 | $63,260 | $96,880 |
| 32 | Ohio | $100,810 | $65,170 | $96,220 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $100,750 | $67,930 | $97,850 |
| 34 | Utah | $100,300 | $62,130 | $96,830 |
| 35 | Indiana | $100,010 | $64,200 | $98,270 |
| 36 | Iowa | $99,950 | $64,900 | $96,430 |
| 37 | New Hampshire | $99,620 | $64,270 | $98,710 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $99,500 | $70,050 | $98,700 |
| 39 | Maine | $99,310 | $71,080 | $97,820 |
| 40 | Missouri | $98,970 | $64,950 | $92,750 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $98,780 | $63,290 | $98,190 |
| 42 | Georgia | $98,300 | $62,850 | $84,240 |
| 43 | Vermont | $97,480 | $68,720 | $95,600 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $97,330 | $67,590 | $94,600 |
| 45 | Arizona | $97,130 | $63,740 | $89,660 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $96,810 | $67,870 | $90,590 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $96,270 | $62,900 | $94,280 |
| 48 | Michigan | $94,870 | $63,920 | $92,100 |
| 49 | Montana | $92,650 | $62,230 | $93,070 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $91,220 | $51,640 | $86,930 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $89,500 | $44,810 | $85,020 |
| — | National | $108,670 | $68,240 | $100,840 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 estimates, fetched 2026-09-29. Figures cover Civil Engineers (cross-industry). Some states are omitted where BLS did not publish a reliable estimate.
Career Advancement in Civil Engineering
| Path | Timeline | Target Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Get PE license | 4-6 years after BS | +$15,000-$25,000 over unlicensed |
| Move from EIT to Project Engineer | 3-5 years | $85,000-$105,000 |
| Obtain SE license (structural only) | CA/WA specific; after PE | Premium structural work |
| Transition to construction management | Mid-career; leverages hands-on experience | $110,000-$150,000+ |
| Partners / principals at consulting firms | 15-25 years; equity stake possible | $150,000-$220,000+ |
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