How much does a civil engineer make?
a year · about $48 an hour
A typical civil engineer in the United States makes $100,840 a year, about $48 an hour, about 2× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A civil engineer may start at a desk, studying maps and using design software to plan a road or water system. Then they may visit a construction site, check progress and materials, and make sure the work follows the plans and safety rules.
Did you know? At the bottom of the Grand Canyon, a suspension bridge was designed so every piece except its cables could be carried down a trail by mule.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $68,240 and $163,220How do you become one?
In the U.S., earn a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, then take the FE exam near graduation; entry-level jobs do not require a license. To become a PE, most states require relevant work experience—often about four years—and passing the PE exam.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like building and doing and figuring things out
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience, greater responsibility, and a PE license or specialty certification can help civil engineers move into senior roles. Pay also differs by employer or industry and by location.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($122,500), lowest in Georgia ($84,240).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
In Japan, a civil engineer averages $41,663. Civil engineer salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $68,240 | $100,840 | $163,220 | about 368,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $122,500 | about 55,000 |
| Alaska | $114,730 | about 2,000 |
| Washington | $110,000 | about 13,000 |
| Massachusetts | $106,730 | about 9,000 |
| Louisiana | $105,380 | about 4,000 |
Official definition: Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems. Includes architectural, structural, traffic, and geotechnical engineers. Excludes “Hydrologists” (19-2043).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/civil-engineers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/17-2051.00
- ncees.org/licensure
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/article/2024/10/29/m
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY