Civil Engineer in the United States: a US$98,000 national median
Civil Engineers in the United States earn a national median of US$98,000 (US$8,200 a month, roughly US$47 an hour on a 2,080-hour year).
BLS OEWS (May 2025) publishes the national spread for the matching occupation: US$68,240 at the 10th percentile and US$163,220 at the 90th, a 2.4× gap.
The closest engineering peer is mechanical engineer at US$104,000, so a civil engineer earns 5.8% less at the national median in the United States.
Civil Engineer pay in official statistics for the United States
The closest official occupation is Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051). In May 2025 its national median was $100,840 a year.
That is within 3% of the SalaryByRole median above, so the two sources agree closely for this role.
The published 10th and 90th percentiles are $68,240 and $163,220, a 2.4× spread.
BLS estimates 367,840 jobs in this occupation nationwide.
51 states have a published figure. California is highest at $122,500 (+21% vs national) and Georgia lowest at $84,240, a 1.45× gap.
16 of the 51 pay above the national median; the next highest after California are Alaska ($114,730) and Washington ($110,000).
National figures, Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051), May 2025
Civil Engineer pay in the United States vs other countries
The United States is 2nd of 7 countries for this role once medians are converted at the same exchange rate (US$98,000). Australia pays 7% more (US$104,750 at today's rate) and Germany pays 35% less (US$63,983).
The median (US$98,000) is close to GDP per person (US$90,000, World Bank 2025), so the role pays roughly in line with average national income.
By national median, it is number 20 of 27 roles we track there. Marketing Manager is the next step up at US$100,000, and Registered Nurse the next step down at US$97,600.
Every other engineering role we cover pays more, led by Electrical Engineer at US$108,000.
Civil Engineer take-home pay in the United States (estimate)
Using our take-home calculator for the United States, the US$98,000 median loses income tax US$12,730, Social Security US$6,076 and Medicare US$1,421, leaving US$77,773 a year or US$6,481 a month. Total deductions: 21% of gross.
At the published 10th percentile from BLS OEWS (May 2025) (US$68,240) deductions are 17%; at the 90th (US$163,220) they reach 25%, leaving US$10,236 a month.
The United States: prices, jobs and holidays
Consumer prices in the United States rose 2.9% in 2024 (World Bank). Matching that on the US$98,000 median takes a raise of about US$2,842.
Unemployment was 4.2% of the labour force in 2025.
The United States has 14 public holidays in 2026 (Nager.Date); at the median, one working day is worth about US$377 before tax.
Australia
United States
Germany