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2026 Civil Engineer Salary Data
Updated April 28, 2026

Civil Engineer Salary: $96K US Median

Civil engineers design, build, and maintain infrastructure projects: roads, bridges, buildings, water systems, and more.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the US national median Civil Engineer salary is $95,890 per year. Civil Engineers earn between $65,000 (entry, 25th percentile) and $144,610 (90th percentile). Highest-paying cities: San Francisco ($149K), Oakland ($134K), New York ($129K). Year-over-year growth: 470.0% from 2025.

National Median
$95,890
+470.0% YoY
Entry Level
$65,000
Experienced
$125,000
Top 10%
$144,610

Civil Engineer Salary by Years of Experience

How Civil Engineer pay scales over a career — US national averages.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$59,800
2–3 yr$65,000
4–6 yr$95,000
7–10 yr$125,000
11–15 yr$147,500
15+ yr$134,805

Curve derived from BLS percentile data; actual progression varies by employer, location, and specialty.

Civil Engineer Salary by City

All 50 top US metros, sorted by salary level. Click any city for the full breakdown.

CityMedian
San Francisco, CA$148,630
Oakland, CA$134,246
New York, NY$129,452
Seattle, WA$126,575
Washington, DC$124,657
Boston, MA$124,657
Los Angeles, CA$122,739
Long Beach, CA$115,068
San Diego, CA$113,150
Austin, TX$110,273
Denver, CO$105,479
Portland, OR$105,479
Baltimore, MD$105,479
Minneapolis, MN$105,479
Sacramento, CA$103,561
Chicago, IL$100,685
Houston, TX$100,685
Dallas, TX$100,685
Atlanta, GA$100,685
Raleigh, NC$100,685
Miami, FL$100,685
Philadelphia, PA$99,726
Fort Worth, TX$97,808
Charlotte, NC$97,808
Phoenix, AZ$95,890
Nashville, TN$95,890
Colorado Springs, CO$95,890
Arlington, TX$95,890
Mesa, AZ$93,972
Virginia Beach, VA$93,972
Columbus, OH$93,013
Omaha, NE$93,013
Las Vegas, NV$91,096
Milwaukee, WI$91,096
Fresno, CA$91,096
Kansas City, MO$91,096
San Antonio, TX$89,178
Indianapolis, IN$89,178
Detroit, MI$89,178
Jacksonville, FL$88,219
New Orleans, LA$88,219
Cleveland, OH$88,219
Louisville, KY$87,260
Albuquerque, NM$86,301
Tucson, AZ$86,301
Memphis, TN$84,383
Oklahoma City, OK$84,383
Tulsa, OK$84,383
El Paso, TX$81,507
Wichita, KS$81,507

Hot 2026 Skills

BIM (Revit)Sustainability/LEEDClimate-resilient designSmart citiesDrone surveying

ATS Keywords

AutoCADCivil 3Dproject managementstructural analysisPE licenseLEEDRevitsite planning

Top Employers

AECOMBechtelJacobsKiewitSkanskastate DOTsmunicipal governments

Certifications

PE (Professional Engineer)LEEDPMPOSHA 30
Year-Over-Year Trend

+470.0% vs 2025

2025 Median
$16,823
2026 Median
$95,890
Change
+$79,067

Engineering sector growth driven by demand for BIM (Revit) and Sustainability/LEED.

How to Negotiate Your Civil Engineer Salary

Walk-away anchor: $85,616 (offers below this are below market for experienced candidates).

Leverage Points

  • PE license carries a clear pay premium (often 10-15%) - cite it explicitly
  • Project-specific experience: EV powertrain, semiconductor fab, infrastructure megaprojects
  • Per-diem, travel pay, and relocation are negotiable separately from base
  • Software-adjacent skills (Python, MATLAB, simulation, MLOps) raise the ceiling

Beyond Base, Negotiate

PE license exam fees, study materials, review coursesRelocation package and temporary housingProject-completion or milestone bonusesPer-diem for site travel and field workTuition reimbursement for MS/PhD

What To Say

"With my PE license and direct experience on [comparable project], market for this role is $X. I'd like base at that level plus a relocation package and project-completion bonus."

Career Outlook
+6% Growth (2024-2034)

Civil engineering growing 6% with $1.2T US infrastructure investment driving demand through 2034.

Education Path

Bachelor's degree (ABET); PE for senior roles

Civil Engineer Salary FAQ

What is the average Civil Engineer salary in the US in 2026?
The 2026 US national median Civil Engineer salary is $95,890 per year. Entry-level (25th percentile) starts at $65,000, while experienced professionals (90th percentile) earn $144,610 or more. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, blended with 2026 market data from Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, and Robert Half.
Did Civil Engineer salaries increase in 2026?
Yes — Civil Engineer salaries grew approximately 470.0% year-over-year, from $16,823 in 2025 to $95,890 in 2026 (+$79,067). This reflects the Engineering sector's 2025-2026 wage growth, driven by demand for BIM (Revit) and Sustainability/LEED.
Which US cities pay Civil Engineers the most in 2026?
The 5 highest-paying US cities for Civil Engineers: San Francisco, CA ($149K); Oakland, CA ($134K); New York, NY ($129K); Seattle, WA ($127K); Washington, DC ($125K). Note these higher salaries usually correspond to higher cost-of-living — see individual city pages for purchasing-power-adjusted figures.
Which US cities have the lowest Civil Engineer salaries?
Lowest-paying metros for Civil Engineers: Wichita ($82K), El Paso ($82K), Tulsa ($84K). However, these cities also have proportionally lower cost-of-living, so real purchasing power may exceed expensive metros.
What's the job outlook for Civil Engineers?
Civil engineering growing 6% with $1.2T US infrastructure investment driving demand through 2034. BLS projects 6% employment growth from 2024-2034 — faster than average compared to all US occupations.
What skills are most valuable for Civil Engineers in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills are: BIM (Revit), Sustainability/LEED, Climate-resilient design, Smart cities, Drone surveying. These appear in the highest-paying job listings, command 15-30% salary premiums, and are heavily weighted by ATS keyword filters. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate.
What education is needed to become a Civil Engineer?
Bachelor's degree (ABET); PE for senior roles. However, the 2026 market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly in Engineering. Top recognized credentials: PE (Professional Engineer), LEED, PMP.
How do I negotiate a higher Civil Engineer salary?
With my PE license and direct experience on [comparable project], market for this role is $X. I'd like base at that level plus a relocation package and project-completion bonus. Key leverage points for Engineering: PE license carries a clear pay premium (often 10-15%) - cite it explicitly; Project-specific experience: EV powertrain, semiconductor fab, infrastructure megaprojects; Per-diem, travel pay, and relocation are negotiable separately from base. Beyond base salary, negotiate: PE license exam fees, study materials, review courses, Relocation package and temporary housing, Project-completion or milestone bonuses, Per-diem for site travel and field work.
Who are the top employers hiring Civil Engineers?
Major US employers hiring Civil Engineers include: AECOM, Bechtel, Jacobs, Kiewit, Skanska, state DOTs, municipal governments. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even reach a human recruiter.
What does an entry-level Civil Engineer make in their first year?
Entry-level (0–1 year) Civil Engineers typically earn around $59,800. By year 2–3, salary climbs to $65,000. With 7–10 years of experience, Civil Engineers earn $125,000 on average. Senior/lead roles (15+ years) reach $134,805 or more.

Methodology & Sources

National Civil Engineer salary figures derive from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, blended with 2026 market data from Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, and Robert Half. Per-city figures apply each metro's cost-of-living multiplier (BEA Regional Price Parities). Year-over-year change (470.0%) reflects the Engineering sector's wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

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