Civil engineer pay in Raleigh, NC
Civil engineers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a typical $101,440 a year. The middle half earn $79,840 to $127,280, and the top 10% earn more than $163,710. About 4,640 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Civil Engineers, SOC 17-2051).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $74,170 |
| 25th percentile | $79,840 |
| Median (typical) | $101,440 |
| 75th percentile | $127,280 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $163,710 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 20 of 50 large metros for civil engineers before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $101,440, a single filer keeps about $76,700 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and North Carolina state income tax. Prices in Raleigh are 2% below the US average, so that take-home buys what $78,100 would in a typical US city. That ranks Raleigh No. 20 of 50 large metros for civil engineers after cost of living.
Where civil engineers’ pay goes furthest
- Sacramento, CA$130,150 typical · worth $86.6k
- San Jose, CA$130,280 typical · worth $83.7k
- Las Vegas, NV$106,110 typical · worth $83.3k
- Memphis, TN$96,100 typical · worth $82.9k
All 50 metros for civil engineers →
Where does your salary land?
Add your salary and experience to see your percentile among civil engineers in Raleigh. Free and private. (Different city? Use the main checker.) 2 employers here filed pay above the typical rate in government filings; your check shows how many pay more than you.
Common questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Raleigh, NC?
The typical (median) civil engineer in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earns $101,440 a year. The middle half earn between $79,840 and $127,280, and the top 10% earn more than $163,710. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a civil engineer in Raleigh?
Anything above $101,440 pays more than half of civil engineers in Raleigh. $127,280 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $163,710 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a civil engineer in Raleigh take home after taxes?
At the typical $101,440, a single filer keeps about $76,700 a year ($6,390 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, North Carolina state income tax. With local prices 2% below the US average, that buys what $78,100 would in a typical US city.
Where do civil engineers get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical civil engineer pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in Sacramento, CA, San Jose, CA, Las Vegas, NV. Raleigh, NC ranks No. 20.
More: Civil engineer pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in Raleigh, NC
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.