Entry-Level Civil Engineer Salary (2026): What New Grad Civil Engineers Actually Make
The average entry-level civil engineer salary is $73,022 per year ($35.11/hour) in 2026, based on the 10th percentile of BLS wage data. New civil engineer starting pay ranges from $34,751 to $98,689 in Walla Walla, WA — driven by AEC firm tier (Bechtel, Fluor, AECOM, Jacobs, Stantec, HDR, WSP, Kiewit), structural / transportation / water / geotechnical specialty, FE / EIT exam, and PE license track.
2019 BLS
$55,380
2025 BLS
$68,240
2026 Current Est.
$70,035
2019–2027 Growth
+29.8%
National Entry-Level Civil Engineer Salary Trend (10th Percentile)
2019–2025: BLS OEWS actual data. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Entry-Level Salary (P10) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $55,380 | Actual |
| 2020 | $56,160 | Actual |
| 2021 | $60,550 | Actual |
| 2022 | $61,040 | Actual |
| 2023 | $63,220 | Actual |
| 2024 | $65,920 | Actual |
| 2025 | $68,240 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $70,035 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $71,877 | Projected |
Entry-level civil engineer salaries (10th percentile) have shown consistent growth over 7 years of BLS data. The 10th percentile represents typical starting pay for new graduates and early-career professionals. At the current 2.63% CAGR, starting salaries are projected to continue rising through 2027.
Note: BLS actual data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. Estimated and projected values are calculated using a 2.63% historical CAGR. Actual compensation may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Civil Engineer Salary by State
Entry-level civil engineer pay varies dramatically by state. The top-paying states offer starting salaries well above $73,022, while others fall below the national average. Here are all 52 states ranked by average starting salary for civil engineers.
| # | State | Avg Starting Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $83,689 |
| 2 | California | $81,331 |
| 3 | Alaska | $80,868 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $80,177 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $80,021 |
| 6 | Oregon | $79,908 |
| 7 | Nevada | $79,653 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $78,807 |
| 9 | New York | $78,652 |
| 10 | Colorado | $78,445 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $78,230 |
| 12 | Maryland | $77,482 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $77,435 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $75,441 |
| 15 | Delaware | $75,280 |
| 16 | Illinois | $74,601 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $74,274 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $73,903 |
| 19 | Maine | $73,845 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $73,691 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $72,483 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $71,498 |
| 23 | Idaho | $70,907 |
| 24 | Indiana | $70,744 |
| 25 | Vermont | $70,642 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $70,316 |
| 27 | Virginia | $70,153 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $70,098 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $69,775 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $69,238 |
| 31 | Alabama | $69,193 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $68,423 |
| 33 | Missouri | $68,090 |
| 34 | Georgia | $68,000 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $67,520 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $67,279 |
| 37 | Iowa | $67,227 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $67,132 |
| 39 | Ohio | $67,050 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $66,591 |
| 41 | Michigan | $66,014 |
| 42 | Texas | $65,823 |
| 43 | Montana | $65,243 |
| 44 | Arizona | $64,909 |
| 45 | Florida | $64,220 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $62,929 |
| 47 | Utah | $61,232 |
| 48 | Kansas | $58,593 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $56,399 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $53,294 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $52,346 |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $45,683 |
Beginner Civil Engineer Pay: Top 20 Cities
These 20 metro areas offer the highest starting salaries for new civil engineers. Each figure represents the 10th percentile of local BLS wage data — the typical pay range for professionals with little to no experience.
| # | City | Starting Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walla Walla, WA | $98,689 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $93,250 |
| 3 | Roseville, CA | $92,953 |
| 4 | Sunnyvale, CA | $90,953 |
| 5 | Santa Clara, CA | $88,923 |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $88,061 |
| 7 | Folsom, CA | $87,017 |
| 8 | Kahului, HI | $86,763 |
| 9 | Olympia, WA | $86,722 |
| 10 | Wenatchee, WA | $86,722 |
| 11 | Kaneohe, HI | $85,941 |
| 12 | Richland, WA | $85,667 |
| 13 | Mililani Town, HI | $85,415 |
| 14 | Kailua, HI | $85,104 |
| 15 | Kearny, NJ | $85,023 |
| 16 | Manalapan, NJ | $84,781 |
| 17 | Old Bridge, NJ | $84,412 |
| 18 | Elizabeth, NJ | $84,329 |
| 19 | Seattle, WA | $84,300 |
| 20 | Union City, NJ | $83,987 |
Civil Engineer Salary With No Experience: New Grad Reality
The 10th percentile of BLS wage data is the standard proxy for entry-level civil engineer pay — predominantly new grads with FE / EIT certification in their first year at AEC firms, federal agencies, or municipal positions. Nationally, that sits at $73,022 ($35.11/hour) for 2026. New civil engineer compensation varies by firm tier (large AEC vs mid-firm vs small) and specialty (structural, transportation, water, geotechnical, construction management).
What New Grad Civil Engineers Actually Earn (Year 1)
- Bechtel / Fluor / AECOM / Jacobs / Stantec / HDR / WSP / Kiewit / Skanska (top AEC tier) — $72,000–$92,000 base + signing + bonus + project bonus. Premium NYC / DC / SF / Houston / LA.
- Top energy / utility EPCM (Black & Veatch, Burns & McDonnell, Parsons) — $70,000–$88,000 base + bonus.
- Mid-tier AEC (Arcadis, GHD, Mott MacDonald, Atkins, CDM Smith, Tetra Tech) — $65,000–$82,000 base + bonus.
- Small / mid civil firms (local consulting) — $55,000–$72,000 base.
- Federal civil engineer (USACE, NAVFAC, FHWA, FAA, USBR, GS-7 to GS-9) — $50,000–$72,000 base + pension + PSLF.
- State DOT engineer — $52,000–$72,000 base + state pension + PSLF.
- Municipal / city engineer — $52,000–$72,000 base + pension + PSLF.
- Construction management / GC (Turner, Skanska, Suffolk, Whiting-Turner, Mortenson) — $70,000–$92,000 base + per-diem on travel jobs + project bonus.
- Structural engineering boutique (Thornton Tomasetti, Arup, LERA, SOM, Magnusson Klemencic) — $72,000–$90,000 base.
- Federal contractor (Booz Allen, SAIC, Leidos) — $75,000–$95,000 base + clearance premium + PSLF.
FE / EIT Exam + PE License Track
- ABET-accredited bachelor's in civil engineering (BSCE) — required for licensure path. 4-year program.
- FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam — take during senior year. Required for EIT certification.
- EIT (Engineer-in-Training) certification — first license stage. Required at most AEC firms.
- PE (Principal Engineer) license — requires 4 years engineering experience + PE exam.
- State-specific PE registration — must register in each state where stamping.
- SE (Structural Engineering) license — additional credential beyond PE. Required for structural in some states (IL, CA, HI).
- NCEES exam administration — National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying.
- Master's (MS / M.Eng) in civil — preferred at structural boutiques + research roles.
- LEED AP / ENV SP / PMP — common professional credentials.
- OSHA 30-Hour + USACE training — required at some federal contractor + construction positions.
Setting Selection: Large AEC / Mid-Tier / CM / Federal / State DOT / Boutique
- Large AEC (Bechtel, Fluor, AECOM, Jacobs, Stantec, HDR, WSP, Kiewit) — top pay + premium project exposure.
- Energy / utility EPCM (Black & Veatch, Burns & McDonnell, Parsons) — premium oil & gas + power.
- Mid-tier AEC (Arcadis, GHD, Mott MacDonald, Atkins, CDM Smith, Tetra Tech) — solid second tier.
- Construction management / GC (Turner, Skanska, Suffolk, Whiting-Turner, Mortenson) — premium project bonus + per-diem.
- Structural boutique (Thornton Tomasetti, Arup, LERA, SOM, MKA) — premium structural specialty.
- Federal civil engineer (USACE, NAVFAC, FHWA, FAA, USBR) — pension + PSLF.
- State DOT engineer — state pension + PSLF.
- Municipal city engineer — pension + PSLF.
- Federal contractor (Booz Allen, SAIC, Leidos) — clearance premium + PSLF.
- Small / local civil consulting — broader exposure, lower comp.
Year-by-Year Progression to Civil Engineer National Median
- Year 0–1 (P10 baseline, EIT) — $73,022 national average.
- Year 1–4 (EIT to PE eligible) — 8–12% annual raises. PE exam at year 4.
- Year 4–5 (PE license obtained) — major salary bump $5,000–$15,000 + signing PE bonus at AEC firms.
- Year 5–8 (project engineer / senior engineer) — approaches state median. Project lead responsibility.
- Year 8–12 (project manager / senior PM) — premium PM track. $120,000–$160,000+ total.
- Year 12+ (principal / partner / director) — principal at AEC = $200,000–$350,000+ total; partner at boutique = $400,000+ total.
2026 New Civil Engineer Salary Outlook
Entry-level civil engineer pay has grown at a compound annual rate of 2.63% nationally — driven by Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) federal funding wave for roads / bridges / water / broadband, CHIPS Act semiconductor fab construction, climate resilience infrastructure, water/sewer modernization, and continued structural engineer shortage. The BLS projects civil engineer employment growth at 6% through 2033.
Entry-Level to Mid-Career: Civil Engineer Salary Growth
Civil Engineer salaries follow a predictable growth curve. Here's how pay typically progresses from entry-level to experienced:
How to Maximize Your Starting Civil Engineer Salary
New grad civil engineers who strategically target large AEC, construction management, or structural boutiques, pass FE before graduation, and pursue PE on accelerated track consistently land starting compensation 25–45% above the national average. Here's how to maximize your first civil engineer total comp:
1. Target Large AEC / CM / Structural Boutique
- Large AEC — Bechtel, Fluor, AECOM, Jacobs, Stantec, HDR, WSP, Kiewit, Skanska.
- Energy / utility EPCM — Black & Veatch, Burns & McDonnell, Parsons.
- Construction management / GC — Turner, Skanska, Suffolk, Whiting-Turner, Mortenson. Premium project bonus + per-diem.
- Structural boutique — Thornton Tomasetti, Arup, LERA, SOM, MKA. Premium structural specialty.
- Federal contractor — Booz Allen, SAIC, Leidos. Clearance premium + PSLF.
- Highest-paying new civil engineer metro — Walla Walla, WA at $98,689.
2. Pass FE / EIT Before Graduation
- ABET-accredited bachelor's in civil engineering — required for licensure.
- FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam — take senior year. Required at most AEC firms.
- EIT certification — first license stage.
- Master's (MS / M.Eng) — preferred at structural boutiques.
- OSHA 30-Hour training — preferred at construction-side roles.
- AutoCAD / Revit / Civil 3D / STAAD / RAM / RISA fluency — required.
- Bluebeam / Procore / Primavera P6 / MS Project — premium CM tools.
3. Choose Specialty Strategically
- Structural engineering (premium boutique track) — Thornton Tomasetti, Arup, LERA, SOM, MKA. SE license premium in some states.
- Transportation engineering (DOT-funded) — IIJA infrastructure wave. Strong AEC employment.
- Water / wastewater engineering — climate resilience + infrastructure modernization.
- Geotechnical engineering — premium specialty with shortage.
- Construction management (Turner / Skanska / Suffolk / Whiting-Turner / Mortenson) — premium project bonus + per-diem.
- Environmental engineering (EPA / remediation) — federal contractor premium.
- Coastal / marine / port engineering — niche premium.
- Federal civil (USACE, NAVFAC, FHWA, FAA, USBR) — pension + PSLF.
4. Negotiate Base + Signing + PE Path
- Signing bonus — $5,000–$15,000 at large AEC.
- FE exam fee reimbursement — most AEC firms cover.
- PE exam fee reimbursement + PE bonus — $1,000–$5,000 on passing.
- Project bonus (CM-side) — premium at construction management firms.
- Per-diem on travel jobs — premium at large AEC + CM. $100–$200/day.
- Relocation — typical $5,000–$15,000 at large AEC.
- Tuition reimbursement (MS / MEng) — premium at large AEC.
- 401k match (4–6% typical) — standard at large AEC.
5. Plan PE / SE / Senior PM / Principal Path
- PE license (year 4) — required for stamp authority + senior promotion.
- SE (Structural Engineering) license — premium structural credential in select states.
- PMP (Project Management Professional) — premium CM / PM track.
- LEED AP / ENV SP — sustainability premium.
- Senior engineer / project engineer (years 5–8) — approaches state median.
- Project manager / senior PM (years 8–12) — $120,000–$160,000+ total.
- Principal / partner / director (years 12+) — $200,000–$400,000+ total.
- Independent consulting / firm ownership — premier long-term wealth path.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Chen, P.E.
Career Analyst
Jordan Chen has 10 years of experience in structural engineering. He works primarily in urban infrastructure projects.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS , released .
Compiled and verified by Jordan Chen, P.E., a licensed civil engineer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. We applied a 2.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS trends, to estimate current 2026 compensation.