Civil Engineer Salary in Texas: $98,630 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Texas's 109 metropolitan areas, the average median civil engineer pay sits at $98,630/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 17-2051. Because Texas sits at BEA RPP 96.0 (4% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $102,740 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: San Marcos ($102,813), Round Rock ($101,173), Houston ($100,950).
The landscape for civil engineers in Texas shows a 2026 average median salary of $98,631, which is approximately 4.7% below the national median of $103,492. Among Texas cities, San Marcos leads with a salary of $105,517, while Abilene reflects the lowest at $75,484, creating a notable gap of $30,033. This disparity can be attributed to factors such as local demand for infrastructure projects, cost of living adjustments, and varying levels of industry concentration. Texas has specific state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that can influence salary levels. The Texas job market for civil engineers is projected to grow at an annual rate of 2.63%, indicating consistent demand driven by urban development, infrastructure renewal, and population growth. The top five cities for civil engineers in Texas in 2026 are San Marcos, Round Rock ($103,834), Houston ($103,605), Austin ($103,112), and The Woodlands ($102,366). With a total of 33,993 civil engineers employed, the outlook remains positive, underpinned by various ongoing projects statewide. Understanding these dynamics can help prospective civil engineers make informed decisions about their career paths in Texas.
Texas Civil Engineer Salary Range
Overall salary range in Texas: $50,330 (lowest entry-level) to $207,703 (highest top earner)
Texas vs National Average
Texas civil engineers earn 4.7% less than the national median ($-4,862/year difference).
Texas Civil Engineer Salary Distribution (2026)
Civil Engineer salaries in Texas range from $65,823 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $161,590 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $98,630. The Texas median is $4,862 below the US national median of $103,492. The average hourly rate is $47.42/hr. Approximately 33,993 civil engineers are employed across 109 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$86,698
2025 BLS Actual
$96,103
2026 Current Est.
$98,630
2019–2027 Growth
+16.8%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Texas (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $86,698 | Actual |
| 2020 | $85,443 | Actual |
| 2021 | $84,782 | Actual |
| 2022 | $85,742 | Actual |
| 2023 | $87,166 | Actual |
| 2024 | $95,463 | Actual |
| 2025 | $96,103 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $98,630 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $101,224 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Texas metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 10.8% from $86,698 (2019) to $96,103 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $101,224 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,526 (16.75%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Texas metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.63% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Texas
Lowest Paying Cities in Texas
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Abilene | $75,484 |
| San Angelo | $76,942 |
| Tomball | $77,030 |
| Waco | $77,096 |
| Murphy | $77,649 |
Best Value Cities for Civil Engineers in Texas
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Texas cities offer the most purchasing power for civil engineers.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Marcos | $105,517 | 96 | $109,914 |
| Beaumont | $98,022 | 90.046 | $108,858 |
| Round Rock | $103,834 | 96 | $108,160 |
| The Woodlands | $102,366 | 96 | $106,631 |
| Pasadena | $102,250 | 96 | $106,510 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Texas
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $65,823 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $98,630 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $161,590 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Texas metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 109 Cities in Texas
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Marcos | $105,517 |
| 2 | Round Rock | $103,834 |
| 3 | Houston | $103,605 |
| 4 | Austin | $103,112 |
| 5 | The Woodlands | $102,366 |
| 6 | Pasadena | $102,250 |
| 7 | Port Arthur | $100,268 |
| 8 | Dallas | $99,469 |
| 9 | Fort Worth | $98,820 |
| 10 | Beaumont | $98,022 |
| 11 | Midland | $97,991 |
| 12 | Corpus Christi | $97,663 |
| 13 | Arlington | $97,460 |
| 14 | Killeen | $95,271 |
| 15 | Temple | $94,490 |
| 16 | New Braunfels | $91,398 |
| 17 | San Antonio | $90,612 |
| 18 | Sherman | $89,658 |
| 19 | Longview | $89,380 |
| 20 | Irving | $88,031 |
| 21 | Plano | $87,740 |
| 22 | Garland | $87,284 |
| 23 | Tyler | $87,194 |
| 24 | Frisco | $86,973 |
| 25 | Conroe | $85,191 |
| 26 | Richardson | $85,032 |
| 27 | Carrollton | $85,019 |
| 28 | Grand Prairie | $84,876 |
| 29 | Galveston | $84,253 |
| 30 | DeSoto | $84,194 |
| 31 | College Station | $84,177 |
| 32 | Missouri City | $84,107 |
| 33 | Lubbock | $83,992 |
| 34 | Sugar Land | $83,750 |
| 35 | Allen | $83,743 |
| 36 | League City | $83,668 |
| 37 | Cedar Park | $83,631 |
| 38 | Georgetown | $83,601 |
| 39 | Baytown | $83,569 |
| 40 | Denton | $83,519 |
| 41 | Wylie | $83,508 |
| 42 | Cleburne | $83,497 |
| 43 | Mesquite | $83,485 |
| 44 | Pharr | $83,422 |
| 45 | McKinney | $83,410 |
| 46 | Pearland | $83,241 |
| 47 | Burleson | $83,184 |
| 48 | Pflugerville | $83,076 |
| 49 | Cedar Hill | $83,040 |
| 50 | Texarkana | $82,905 |
| 51 | Flower Mound | $82,837 |
| 52 | Kyle | $82,783 |
| 53 | Del Rio | $82,688 |
| 54 | Coppell | $82,493 |
| 55 | Forney | $82,363 |
| 56 | Rowlett | $82,277 |
| 57 | Mission | $82,184 |
| 58 | The Colony | $82,153 |
| 59 | Anna | $82,121 |
| 60 | Huntsville | $82,030 |
| 61 | Mansfield | $81,773 |
| 62 | Weatherford | $81,756 |
| 63 | Euless | $81,719 |
| 64 | Weslaco | $81,665 |
| 65 | Hurst | $81,626 |
| 66 | Grapevine | $81,526 |
| 67 | Leander | $81,506 |
| 68 | Little Elm | $81,502 |
| 69 | McAllen | $81,457 |
| 70 | Lancaster | $81,431 |
| 71 | North Richland Hills | $81,373 |
| 72 | Duncanville | $81,359 |
| 73 | Copperas Cove | $81,202 |
| 74 | Friendswood | $81,190 |
| 75 | Harlingen | $81,183 |
| 76 | El Paso | $81,170 |
| 77 | Seguin | $80,850 |
| 78 | Rockwall | $80,739 |
| 79 | Odessa | $80,729 |
| 80 | Corinth | $80,655 |
| 81 | Schertz | $80,583 |
| 82 | Victoria | $80,575 |
| 83 | Corsicana | $80,516 |
| 84 | San Juan | $80,459 |
| 85 | Kingsville | $80,453 |
| 86 | Prosper | $80,433 |
| 87 | Sachse | $80,231 |
| 88 | Bastrop | $80,220 |
| 89 | Socorro | $80,081 |
| 90 | Eagle Pass | $79,931 |
| 91 | Keller | $79,814 |
| 92 | Brownsville | $79,764 |
| 93 | Lufkin | $79,723 |
| 94 | Haltom City | $79,716 |
| 95 | Nacogdoches | $79,716 |
| 96 | Benbrook | $79,651 |
| 97 | University Park | $79,575 |
| 98 | Edinburg | $79,499 |
| 99 | Fredericksburg | $79,076 |
| 100 | Wichita Falls | $78,656 |
| 101 | Laredo | $78,635 |
| 102 | Stephenville | $78,514 |
| 103 | Horizon City | $78,173 |
| 104 | Amarillo | $77,906 |
| 105 | Murphy | $77,649 |
| 106 | Waco | $77,096 |
| 107 | Tomball | $77,030 |
| 108 | San Angelo | $76,942 |
| 109 | Abilene | $75,484 |
More Texas Salary Data
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced civil engineers.
Compare Cities in Texas
View all comparisons →Explore More Civil Engineer Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do civil engineers make in Texas in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for civil engineers in Texas?
How does Texas civil engineer pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level civil engineer salary in Texas?
How many civil engineers are employed in Texas?
Which Texas city offers the best value for civil engineers?
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.
Methodology & Data Source
Statewide 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. A 2.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 civil engineer compensation across Texas. State averages are employment-weighted across 109 metro areas — larger metro areas with more civil engineerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.63%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for civil engineers (SOC 17-2051).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Chen, P.E., a licensed civil engineer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov