2026 Salary — Texas
Updated April 29, 2026
Civil Engineer Salary in Texas: $98K Median
Civil Engineers in Texas earn between $66K and $148K per year.
That's +2% above the US national median.
Quick Answer
As of April 2026, the median Civil Engineer salary in Texas is $97,808 per year — +2% above the US national median of $95,890. Salaries range from $66,300 (entry, 25th percentile) to $147,502 (90th percentile). Texas's cost-of-living index is 93. Texas has no state income tax.
Median
$97,808
+470.0% YoY
Entry
$66,300
Experienced
$127,500
Top 10%
$147,502
About Civil Engineers in Texas
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
Civil Engineer Salary in Texas Metros
Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay calculator.
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Houston | $100,685 |
| Dallas | $100,685 |
| Austin | $110,273 |
| San Antonio | $89,178 |
| Fort Worth | $97,808 |
| El Paso | $81,507 |
| Arlington | $95,890 |
How to Negotiate Your Civil Engineer Salary in Texas
Walk-away anchor: $87,329.
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 — Texas
What is the average Civil Engineer salary in Texas?
The average Civil Engineer salary in Texas is $97,808 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $66,300 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $147,502 (90th percentile). Texas has no state income tax — increasing take-home meaningfully.
How does Civil Engineer pay in Texas compare to the US average?
Civil Engineers in Texas earn approximately 2% more than the US national median ($95,890 nationally vs $97,808 in Texas). Texas's cost-of-living index of 93 amplifies the real purchasing power.
Did Civil Engineer salaries in Texas increase in 2026?
Yes — Civil Engineer salaries in Texas grew approximately 470.0% year-over-year, from $17,159 in 2025 to $97,808 in 2026. This reflects the broader Engineering sector's wage growth, driven by BIM (Revit) and Sustainability/LEED demand.
Which Texas cities pay Civil Engineers the most?
Top-paying Texas metros for Civil Engineers: Houston ($101K), Dallas ($101K), Austin ($110K). Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay.
What's the job outlook for Civil Engineers in Texas?
Civil engineering growing 6% with $1.2T US infrastructure investment driving demand through 2034. Texas's top industries include Energy/Oil & Gas, Tech, Healthcare, and the state's unemployment rate is 4.1% — steady demand for skilled workers.
Does Texas have state income tax?
No, Texas has no state income tax. This significantly boosts take-home pay vs comparable salaries in tax states like California or New York. At $97,808, you keep all of it (after federal + FICA).
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 Texas employers.
How can I increase my Civil Engineer salary in Texas?
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 Texas: $87,329.
Methodology
Texas Civil Engineer salary is the BLS national median ($95,890) adjusted by Texas's state multiplier (1.02×). YoY rate from BLS Employment Cost Index. Last reviewed April 29, 2026.
Civil Engineer Salary in Other States
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