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2026 Salary Data — Houston, TX
Updated April 28, 2026

Civil Engineer Salary in Houston: $101K Median

Civil Engineers in Houston, TX earn between $68K and $152K per year.

That's +5% above the US national median of $95,890 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Civil Engineer salary in Houston, TX is $100,685 per year — +5% above the US national median of $95,890. Salaries range from $68,250 (entry, 25th percentile) to $151,841 (90th percentile). Civil Engineers in Houston earned approximately $17,664 in 2025, representing 470.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$100,685
+470.0% YoY · $8,390/mo
Entry
$68,250
0–2 years
Experienced
$131,250
5+ years
Top 10%
$151,841
Senior/lead
Civil Engineer Salary — Houston vs Nearby
Houston
$101K
San Antonio
$89K
+13% vs Houston
Dallas
$101K
+0% vs Houston
Austin
$110K
-9% vs Houston

Free ATS scan · Houston employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Civil Engineers in Houston

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

Core Responsibilities

  • Design infrastructure
  • Project management
  • Site inspection
  • Construction documents
  • Code compliance

Education & Certifications

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

In-demand certifications

PE (Professional Engineer)LEEDPMPOSHA 30

Houston Job Market

Energy capital with massive medical center and growing tech presence.

Population
2320K
Cost of Living
96
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
4.5%
Median Home
$320K

Top Industries in Houston

Energy/Oil & GasHealthcareAerospace (NASA)Manufacturing

Top Employers Hiring Civil Engineers

Major employers active in Houston or hiring remotely from this metro.

AECOM
Bechtel
Jacobs
Kiewit
Skanska
state DOTs
municipal governments

All major employers use ATS software.

Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, and iCIMS auto-screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Scan your resume free to see your match rate.

2026 Hot Skills & Resume Keywords

Skills that command salary premiums and pass ATS keyword filters.

Hottest 2026 Skills

These appear in the highest-paying Civil Engineer listings.

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

ATS Resume Keywords

Include these naturally throughout your resume.

AutoCADCivil 3Dproject managementstructural analysisPE licenseLEEDRevitsite planning
Career Outlook
+6% Growth Projected (2024-2034)

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

Civil Engineer Salary Breakdown — Houston

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$68,250$100,685$151,841
Monthly$5,688$8,390$12,653
Weekly$1,313$1,936$2,920
Hourly$33$48$73

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($95,890) adjusted for Houston's cost-of-living multiplier (1.05×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Civil Engineer Take-Home Pay in Houston

After federal, state and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.

Net Annual Take-Home
$79,129.898
Per month$6,594
Biweekly paycheck$3,043
Effective tax rate21.4%

Tax Breakdown on $100,685

Gross salary$100,685
Federal income tax−$13,852.7
Texas state tax−$0
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$7,702.403
Take-home (net)$79,129.898

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction ($14,600 for 2026), no 401(k)/HSA/dependents. Actual take-home varies with deductions, dependents, and benefits elections. Not tax advice.

Civil Engineer Salary by Experience — Houston

Career-stage progression for Civil Engineers in Houston.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$62,790
2–3 yr$68,250
4–6 yr$99,750
7–10 yr$131,250
11–15 yr$154,875
15+ yr$141,546

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Houston's 1.05× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+470.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$17,664
2026 median:$100,685
Change:+$83,021

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

Is This A Good Salary?

Excellent

Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$104,880
Solidly middle-class on the median - manageable, but disciplined budgeting is needed to save aggressively or buy a home.

How to Negotiate Your Civil Engineer Salary in Houston

Walk-away anchor: $89,897 (offers below this are below market for Houston).

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 Salary, 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."

Anchor on $131K–$152K for experienced roles, citing Houston market data and your specific BIM (Revit)/Sustainability/LEED expertise.

Civil Engineer Salary FAQ — Houston

What is the average Civil Engineer salary in Houston, TX?
The average Civil Engineer salary in Houston is $100,685 per year as of April 2026 — $8,390/month, $1,936/week, or about $48/hour. Salaries range from $68,250 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $151,841 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Houston's cost-of-living multiplier (1.05×).
Is $100,685 a good Civil Engineer salary in Houston?
Excellent. Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic. Houston's cost-of-living index is 96 (vs 100 nationally), giving $100,685 a real purchasing power of approximately $104,880 in national terms. Solidly middle-class on the median - manageable, but disciplined budgeting is needed to save aggressively or buy a home.
Can you live on $100,685 in Houston?
Dual-income households support a comfortable family lifestyle. Single-earner families on the median may need to compromise on neighborhood, square footage, or college savings. Aim for 28-30% of pre-tax income on rent. The classic 30% rule still works here, though housing costs are creeping up faster than wages. For Houston specifically (median home price $320,000), a $100,685 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $100,685 enough for a single person in Houston?
A single adult in Houston typically needs ~$43,200 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $100,685 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $100,685 enough for a couple in Houston?
A couple (one earner) in Houston typically needs ~$69,120 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $100,685 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $100,685 each ($201,370 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $100,685 enough for a family of 4 in Houston?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Houston typically needs ~$105,600 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $100,685 salary as the sole household income is below the comfortable threshold — most families need a second income or to live in cheaper suburbs/exurbs of Houston. Childcare costs in Houston typically run $14K-$27K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Civil Engineer in Houston?
On a $100,685 Civil Engineer salary in Houston, TX, you take home approximately $79,129.898 per year ($6,594/month, $3,043 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $13,852.7, state $0, FICA $7,702.403. Effective tax rate: 21.4%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Civil Engineers in Houston earn compared to the US average?
Civil Engineers in Houston earn approximately 5% more than the US national median for this role ($95,890 nationally vs $100,685 in Houston). However, Houston's cost-of-living index of 96 means real purchasing power is approximately $104,880 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Civil Engineer earn in Houston?
Entry-level Civil Engineers in Houston typically start at around $68,250 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Civil Engineers earn $131,250 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $151,841+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Civil Engineer salaries in Houston increase in 2026?
Yes — Civil Engineer salaries in Houston grew approximately 470.0% year-over-year, from $17,664 in 2025 to $100,685 in 2026 (+$83,021). This reflects the broader Engineering sector's compensation trend, driven by BIM (Revit) and Sustainability/LEED demand.
What's the job outlook for Civil Engineers in Houston?
Civil engineering growing 6% with $1.2T US infrastructure investment driving demand through 2034. Houston's top industries include Energy/Oil & Gas, Healthcare, Aerospace (NASA), and the metro's current unemployment rate is 4.5% — steady demand for skilled workers.
What skills are most in demand for Civil Engineers in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills for Civil Engineers are: BIM (Revit), Sustainability/LEED, Climate-resilient design, Smart cities, Drone surveying. ATS systems specifically scan for these keywords. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate with employers in Houston.
Who are the top employers hiring Civil Engineers in Houston?
Top employers hiring Civil Engineers in or near Houston include: AECOM, Bechtel, Jacobs, Kiewit, Skanska, state DOTs. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even get a human reader.
How do I negotiate a higher Civil Engineer salary in Houston?
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 negotiations: 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 for: 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.
How can I increase my Civil Engineer salary in Houston?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Add 2026's hot skills (BIM (Revit), Sustainability/LEED, Climate-resilient design) — they command 15-30% premiums. (2) Get a recognized certification (e.g., PE (Professional Engineer) or LEED). (3) Tailor your resume to each role's keywords — CVCraft's ATS scanner shows you exactly what's missing.
What education do I need to become a Civil Engineer in Houston?
Bachelor's degree (ABET); PE for senior roles is the typical path. However, Houston's competitive market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly for Engineering roles.

Methodology & Sources

Civil Engineer salary figures for Houston are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($95,890) by Houston's cost-of-living multiplier of 1.05× — a composite of regional wage data and price parities. Year-over-year change (470.0%) reflects the Engineering sector's 2025-2026 wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

Related Roles in Houston

Mechanical Engineer →Electrical Engineer →

Civil Engineer Salary in Other Cities

Chicago, IL$101KPhiladelphia, PA$100KSan Antonio, TX$89KDallas, TX$101KAustin, TX$110KFort Worth, TX$98KCharlotte, NC$98KEl Paso, TX$82K

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