Civil Engineer Salary in Tennessee: $91K Median

The average Civil Engineer salary in Tennessee is $91,096 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $61,750 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $137,380 (90th percentile). Tennessee has no state income tax — increasing take-home meaningfully.

Civil Engineers in Tennessee earn approximately 5% less than the US national median ($95,890 nationally vs $91,096 in Tennessee). Tennessee's cost-of-living index of 92 amplifies the real purchasing power.

Yes — Civil Engineer salaries in Tennessee grew approximately 470.0% year-over-year, from $15,982 in 2025 to $91,096 in 2026. This reflects the broader Engineering sector's wage growth, driven by BIM (Revit) and Sustainability/LEED demand.

Top-paying Tennessee metros for Civil Engineers: Nashville ($96K), Memphis ($84K). Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay.

Civil engineering growing 6% with $1.2T US infrastructure investment driving demand through 2034. Tennessee's top industries include Healthcare, Manufacturing (Auto, EV), Logistics (FedEx), and the state's unemployment rate is 3.6% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.

No, Tennessee has no state income tax. This significantly boosts take-home pay vs comparable salaries in tax states like California or New York. At $91,096, you keep all of it (after federal + FICA).

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 Tennessee employers.

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 Tennessee: $81,336.