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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The salary headline is just the beginning — location changes everything. The national median salary for Civil Engineers in 2026 is $102,208, with entry-level positions averaging $73,590 and senior roles reaching $145,136. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Santa Clara pays a median of $190,246, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Civil Engineer falls within the Engineering sector, specifically in Engineering. The typical education path involves Bachelor's in civil eng. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is hybrid/field — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
$110,945 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Civil Engineer in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $190,246 — $110,945 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($79,301). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The three-tier salary picture for Civil Engineers in 2026: $73,590 at entry (P10), $102,208 at midpoint, and $145,136 at the senior end (P90). But raw salary is only half the story. The $71,546 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $21,841 above the national median household income of $80,367.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $180,081 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $81,251 (average of the bottom 3). That $98,830 delta is real money — $8,236/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Civil Engineer in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $190,246 — $110,945 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($79,301). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Civil Engineer is $73,590, while senior-level (P90) earners average $145,136. That $71,546 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Hawaii pays the highest average median salary for Civil Engineers at $129,835 across 1 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Hampshire at $106,630) is $23,205.
At the 90th percentile, Civil Engineers pull in an average of $145,136. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $73,590 | $102,208 | $145,136 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £43,757 | £60,774 | £86,299 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$64,060 | CA$88,973 | CA$126,341 |
| Australia | 13 | A$74,060 | A$102,861 | A$146,063 |
| Sweden | 24 | 437,201 kr | 607,223 kr | 862,257 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $93,481 | $129,835 | $184,366 |
| California | 61 | $83,990 | $116,653 | $165,647 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $80,968 | $112,455 | $159,686 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $78,844 | $109,506 | $155,499 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $76,774 | $106,630 | $151,415 |
| Washington | 8 | $75,237 | $104,496 | $148,385 |
| Oregon | 5 | $74,398 | $103,331 | $146,730 |
| Colorado | 11 | $74,006 | $102,785 | $145,955 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $73,966 | $102,730 | $145,877 |
| New York | 5 | $73,612 | $102,238 | $145,178 |
| Illinois | 5 | $73,446 | $102,008 | $144,851 |
| Nevada | 5 | $72,603 | $100,838 | $143,190 |
| Virginia | 7 | $72,562 | $100,780 | $143,108 |
| Idaho | 3 | $72,562 | $100,780 | $143,108 |
| Utah | 4 | $71,958 | $99,941 | $141,917 |
| Florida | 22 | $71,890 | $99,848 | $141,784 |
| Arizona | 12 | $71,820 | $99,750 | $141,644 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $71,734 | $99,630 | $141,475 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $70,905 | $98,479 | $139,841 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $70,422 | $97,808 | $138,887 |
| Michigan | 6 | $70,341 | $97,696 | $138,728 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $70,307 | $97,648 | $138,660 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $70,159 | $97,443 | $138,370 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $69,041 | $95,890 | $136,164 |
| Alaska | 1 | $69,041 | $95,890 | $136,164 |
| Iowa | 2 | $69,041 | $95,890 | $136,164 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $69,041 | $95,890 | $136,164 |
| Montana | 1 | $69,041 | $95,890 | $136,164 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $68,097 | $94,580 | $134,303 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $68,005 | $94,452 | $134,121 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $67,998 | $94,441 | $134,107 |
| Texas | 40 | $67,905 | $94,313 | $133,924 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $67,677 | $93,996 | $133,475 |
| Georgia | 6 | $67,487 | $93,733 | $133,100 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $67,401 | $93,613 | $132,930 |
| Indiana | 3 | $67,223 | $93,365 | $132,578 |
| Alabama | 5 | $66,472 | $92,323 | $131,098 |
| Ohio | 6 | $66,325 | $92,118 | $130,808 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $66,279 | $92,055 | $130,718 |
| Maryland | 1 | $66,210 | $91,959 | $130,582 |
| Missouri | 4 | $66,159 | $91,887 | $130,479 |
| Kansas | 4 | $66,003 | $91,671 | $130,173 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $65,727 | $91,287 | $129,628 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $65,382 | $90,808 | $128,948 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $61,170 | $84,959 | $120,642 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $58,339 | $81,027 | $115,058 |
Geography shapes Civil Engineer pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. Hawaii tops the state leaderboard at $129,835 median, with 1 cities providing data. California and Massachusetts follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Arkansas anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Santa Clara ($190,246 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $96,084 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside California | $140,479 | 146 | $96,218 | $84,291 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $190,246 | 198 | $96,084 | $111,688 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $145,082 | 151 | $96,081 | $93,064 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $162,342 | 169 | $96,060 | $96,327 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $170,013 | 177 | $96,053 | $100,550 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $176,725 | 184 | $96,046 | $104,245 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $162,246 | 169 | $96,004 | $117,853 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $154,287 | 161 | $95,830 | $91,892 |
| 9 | Anaheim California | $139,904 | 146 | $95,825 | $83,975 |
| 10 | Los Angeles California | $140,862 | 147 | $95,824 | $84,502 |
The $71,546 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Civil Engineer career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Engineering sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Civil Engineers is $102,208 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $73,590, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $145,136.
The highest-paying city for Civil Engineers is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $190,246. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($190,246), Irvine ($176,725), San Francisco ($173,273). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Civil Engineer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $79,301. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Civil Engineers (10th percentile) average $73,590 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $136,977. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Civil Engineers average $145,136 nationally — $71,546 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Civil Engineers can earn up to $270,149.
The top-paying states for Civil Engineers are Hawaii ($129,835 median), California ($116,653 median), Massachusetts ($112,455 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Civil Engineer involves Bachelor's in civil eng. The field is in the Engineering sector (Engineering), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hybrid/field.
With a national median of $102,208 and representation across 288 metro areas, Civil Engineer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $71,546 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.