Salary for Civil Engineer in the USA 2025: Pay by Experience, Location, Skills & Take-Home
Quick Facts (2025)
Curious about the salary for Civil Engineer in the USA in 2025? Here are the latest numbers, organized by industry, job role, and experience level.
- National Average Salary (USA): $99,590
- Typical Range: roughly $65,000 – $160,000
- Entry-Level Starting Pay: ~$70,000–$75,000
- Top Earners (90th Percentile): $160,000+
- Bonus & Incentives: commonly 5–15% of base at firms and contractors (reported ranges).
- Hot Locations: California, Washington, Massachusetts (highest metro/state averages on salary sites).
What Does Civil Engineer Do?
Civil engineers plan and build public projects like roads, bridges, and water systems. They create site plans and make sure the materials they use are safe and up to code.
They team up with surveyors, map out their projects, and work with construction crews. To solve problems, they use math and basic computer tools. They can work for a variety of clients, including cities, construction companies, energy firms, and consulting groups.
For related pages, see: mechanical engineer, electric engineer, etc.
Salary for Civil Engineers by Experience Level
| Experience Level | Average Annual Pay |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (0–2 yrs) | $70,000 – $85,000 |
| Mid-Level (3–7 yrs) | $90,000 – $120,000 |
| Senior (8–15 yrs) | $120,000 – $160,000 |
| Expert (15+ yrs) | $160,000 – $200,000+ |
Insight: Licenses (PE) and leadership roles push pay above these ranges. BLS reports that the 90th-percentile civil engineers earn over $160k. Data from the platform reveals that top earners frequently surpass $170k.
Civil Engineer Salary by Location (USA)
| State | Average Pay | Difference vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $113,300 | +33% |
| Washington | $104,700 | +5–18% |
| Massachusetts | $110,000 | +10% |
| Texas | $94,500–$105,000 | ~0% to +5% |
| Florida | $94.500 | -5% to 0% |
Tip: High pay cities (San Francisco, Seattle, Boston) pay more. But cost of living changes real income. Use local data when deciding moves.
Civil Engineer Salary by Industry
| Industry | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Aerospace & Defense | $130,000 – $150,000 |
| Petroleum / Energy | $120,000 – $140,000 |
| Automotive | $110,000 – $135,000 |
| Manufacturing | $95,000 – $110,000 |
| Robotics / AI | $80,000 – $120,000 |
Observation: Energy and aerospace often pay a premium. Private sector consulting and tech-focused infrastructure roles are rising in pay.
Skills & Certifications That Boost Pay
- Professional Engineering (PE) License : +15–25% on average
- CAD & Simulation (Civil 3D, AutoCAD, STAAD, Bentley) : +8–15% for specialists.
- Project Management (PMP) : +10–20% in management tracks.
- Geotech / Water Resources Specialties : +10–18% in niche roles.
- Software & BIM (Revit, Civil 3D) : +8–12% for design leads.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salaries
- San Francisco, CA: $113,300 salary ≈ $82,000–$92,000 adjusted (high COL).
- Austin, TX: $105,000 salary ≈ $96,000–$98,000 adjusted (lower COL).
- Seattle, WA: $118,000 salary ≈ $100,000–$105,000 adjusted.
Takeaway: High nominal pay often erodes after COL. Compare take-home, not just headline salary.
Take-Home Pay Example
- Gross Salary: $100,000
- Federal Tax (24% bracket): -$18,800 (approx after standard deductions varies)
- State Tax (California ~9%): -$9,000.
- Other Deductions(benefits, retirement): -$6,000 (example)
- Net Pay (Annual): $66,200 → $5,516/month (example estimate).
Civil Engineer Career Path & Salary Growth
- Junior Engineer → 2–3 years → Design Engineer, hands-on CAD and site work.
- Design Engineer → 4–6 years → Senior Engineer
- Senior → 7–10 years → Lead / Project Manager
- Project Manager / Specialist → 10+ years → Director / VP
At each step, salaries typically rise 15–30% with title and responsibility.
How to Increase Your Civil Engineer Salary
- Earn your PE license → unlocks senior and public-sector roles.
- Specialize in high-paying industries → energy, aerospace, infrastructure tech..
- Master advanced software & BIM → makes you faster and promotable.
- Use market salary data when negotiating → bring platform comps to reviews.
- Pursue MSc or MBA studies → can lead to +20–30% in management tracks.
FAQs
What is the average salary for a Civil Engineer in 2025?
Around $95k–$105k, depending on source; BLS median was $99,590.
Does this include bonuses?
No. Bonuses are typically 5–15% on top of base pay and vary by employer.
What’s the highest-paying state?
Top metros in California and Washington have the highest averages. The top state varies based on metro data or statewide data.
Do entry-level [Profession]s earn well?
Yes. Entry pay often falls near $70k–$85k, depending on city and firm.
How fast do salaries grow?
Typical annual raises are 3–6% plus larger jumps with promotions or license/specialty changes.
Sources & Methodology
Data compiled from multiple salary surveys and government sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook & OES (May 2024), Indeed (2025 location and role pages), Glassdoor (2025 national and metro pages), PayScale (2025 profiles), ZipRecruiter and summarized industry reports (2023–2025). All figures represent gross annual income before taxes.
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