2026 Salary — North Carolina
Updated April 29, 2026
Civil Engineer Salary in North Carolina: $93K Median
Civil Engineers in North Carolina earn between $63K and $140K per year.
That's -3% below the US national median.
Quick Answer
As of April 2026, the median Civil Engineer salary in North Carolina is $93,013 per year — -3% below the US national median of $95,890. Salaries range from $63,050 (entry, 25th percentile) to $140,272 (90th percentile). North Carolina's cost-of-living index is 95. State income tax applies.
Median
$93,013
+470.0% YoY
Entry
$63,050
Experienced
$121,250
Top 10%
$140,272
About Civil Engineers in North Carolina
Civil engineers design, build, and maintain infrastructure projects: roads, bridges, buildings, water systems, and more.
Hot 2026 Skills
BIM (Revit)Sustainability/LEEDClimate-resilient designSmart citiesDrone surveying
ATS Keywords
AutoCADCivil 3Dproject managementstructural analysisPE licenseLEEDRevitsite planning
How to Negotiate Your Civil Engineer Salary in North Carolina
Walk-away anchor: $83,047.
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
Negotiate Beyond Base
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
Civil Engineer Salary FAQ — North Carolina
What is the average Civil Engineer salary in North Carolina?
The average Civil Engineer salary in North Carolina is $93,013 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $63,050 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $140,272 (90th percentile). State income tax applies.
How does Civil Engineer pay in North Carolina compare to the US average?
Civil Engineers in North Carolina earn approximately 3% less than the US national median ($95,890 nationally vs $93,013 in North Carolina). North Carolina's cost-of-living index of 95 is close to the national average.
Did Civil Engineer salaries in North Carolina increase in 2026?
Yes — Civil Engineer salaries in North Carolina grew approximately 470.0% year-over-year, from $16,318 in 2025 to $93,013 in 2026. This reflects the broader Engineering sector's wage growth, driven by BIM (Revit) and Sustainability/LEED demand.
Which North Carolina cities pay Civil Engineers the most?
Top-paying North Carolina metros for Civil Engineers: Charlotte ($98K), Raleigh ($101K). Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay.
What's the job outlook for Civil Engineers in North Carolina?
Civil engineering growing 6% with $1.2T US infrastructure investment driving demand through 2034. North Carolina's top industries include Finance/Banking, Tech (Research Triangle), Pharmaceuticals, and the state's unemployment rate is 3.6% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.
Does North Carolina have state income tax?
Yes, North Carolina has state income tax. This affects take-home pay — at $93,013, expect 4-7% effective state tax depending on filing status. See city pages for detailed take-home calculations.
What skills are most in demand for Civil Engineers in 2026?
Hottest 2026 skills: BIM (Revit), Sustainability/LEED, Climate-resilient design, Smart cities, Drone surveying. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with North Carolina employers.
How can I increase my Civil Engineer salary in North Carolina?
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. Beyond base, 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. Walk-away anchor for North Carolina: $83,047.
Methodology
North Carolina Civil Engineer salary is the BLS national median ($95,890) adjusted by North Carolina's state multiplier (0.97×). YoY rate from BLS Employment Cost Index. Last reviewed April 29, 2026.
Civil Engineer Salary in Other States
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