Civil engineer pay by city
Across the 50 largest US metros, typical civil engineer pay ranges from $83,750 in Miami, FL to $130,280 in San Jose, CA. After taxes and local prices, it goes furthest in Sacramento, CA, San Jose, CA, Las Vegas, NV.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Civil Engineers, SOC 17-2051).
| Rank | Metro | Typical pay | Worth after taxes and prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $130,150 | $86,600 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $130,280 | $83,700 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $106,110 | $83,300 |
| 4 | Memphis, TN | $96,100 | $82,900 |
| 5 | Oklahoma City, OK | $98,960 | $82,500 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $116,480 | $81,700 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $98,650 | $81,200 |
| 8 | Jacksonville, FL | $102,280 | $81,200 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $100,470 | $81,100 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $100,950 | $81,000 |
| 11 | Louisville, KY | $102,650 | $80,900 |
| 12 | San Francisco, CA | $130,160 | $79,900 |
| 13 | Kansas City, MO | $98,860 | $79,700 |
| 14 | Charlotte, NC | $102,370 | $79,400 |
| 15 | Tampa, FL | $100,570 | $78,900 |
| 16 | Indianapolis, IN | $101,830 | $78,800 |
| 17 | Orlando, FL | $100,740 | $78,600 |
| 18 | Birmingham, AL | $97,420 | $78,400 |
| 19 | Riverside, CA | $115,120 | $78,300 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $101,440 | $78,100 |
| 21 | Cincinnati, OH | $98,220 | $77,800 |
| 22 | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,680 | $77,600 |
| 23 | Columbus, OH | $99,010 | $77,600 |
| 24 | Cleveland, OH | $96,190 | $76,900 |
| 25 | St. Louis, MO | $96,830 | $76,100 |
| 26 | Hartford, CT | $103,650 | $75,600 |
| 27 | Buffalo, NY | $97,060 | $75,600 |
| 28 | Milwaukee, WI | $96,190 | $75,100 |
| 29 | San Antonio, TX | $88,290 | $74,900 |
| 30 | Dallas, TX | $96,920 | $74,700 |
| 31 | Denver, CO | $104,710 | $74,200 |
| 32 | Providence, RI | $99,310 | $74,200 |
| 33 | Minneapolis, MN | $104,740 | $73,400 |
| 34 | Boston, MA | $107,670 | $73,300 |
| 35 | Salt Lake City, UT | $98,800 | $73,200 |
| 36 | Virginia Beach, VA | $94,680 | $72,300 |
| 37 | Grand Rapids, MI | $92,600 | $72,100 |
| 38 | Chicago, IL | $100,160 | $71,900 |
| 39 | San Diego, CA | $108,900 | $71,100 |
| 40 | Portland, OR | $106,280 | $71,100 |
| 41 | Philadelphia, PA | $99,410 | $70,200 |
| 42 | Richmond, VA | $91,300 | $70,100 |
| 43 | Los Angeles, CA | $108,640 | $69,900 |
| 44 | Baltimore, MD | $100,500 | $68,800 |
| 45 | Washington, DC | $101,780 | $68,600 |
| 46 | Phoenix, AZ | $90,330 | $68,100 |
| 47 | Detroit, MI | $92,550 | $67,800 |
| 48 | New York, NY | $107,330 | $66,900 |
| 49 | Atlanta, GA | $88,000 | $66,700 |
| 50 | Miami, FL | $83,750 | $59,300 |
“Worth” is take-home pay at the typical salary (single filer, 2026 income taxes), divided by local prices, so every city is in the same typical-US-city dollars.
Common questions
Which city pays civil engineers the most?
Before taxes, San Jose, CA has the highest typical civil engineer pay among the 50 largest US metros: $130,280 a year. The lowest is Miami, FL at $83,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Where does civil engineer pay go furthest after cost of living?
After federal, state, and local income taxes and local prices, typical civil engineer pay goes furthest in Sacramento, CA, San Jose, CA, Las Vegas, NV. It goes the least far in Miami, FL, where it's worth about $59,300 in typical-US-city dollars.