Civil Engineer Salary 2026 — Take-Home Pay by State
Civil engineers design and oversee construction of infrastructure: bridges, roads, water systems, buildings, and the foundational structures that support modern society.
National Median
$95,000
Best State (Net)
$82,456
Washington
Take-Home TX
$75,421
No state tax
Job Growth
5%
Key Facts — Civil Engineer 2026
BLS median: $95,890 (BLS May 2023 OES)
PE license adds 15–20% pay premium and is required for design stamping
CA seismic structural specialty is uniquely lucrative globally
IIJA ($1.2T infrastructure law) is driving sustained civil engineering hiring
Construction megaprojects (CA HSR, NYC infrastructure) support multi-decade careers
Salary by Experience Level
EIT / New Graduate
$72,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$59,240
Pre-PE license; entry-level
Civil Engineer (PE, mid-career)
$95,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$75,421
PE license required for stamping
Senior Engineer / Project Manager
$130,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$99,857
Project leadership, complex design
Principal / Department Head
$175,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$130,615
Firm leadership, business development
Specialties & Salary Premiums
| Specialty | Est. Salary | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Structural (Seismic) | $114,000 | +20% |
| Water Resources | $109,250 | +15% |
| Transportation | $99,750 | +5% |
| Geotechnical | $109,250 | +15% |
| Environmental | $104,500 | +10% |
| Coastal / Hurricane | $112,100 | +18% |
Best States for Civil Engineers — Real Take-Home Pay
Ranked by estimated take-home pay (single filer, no additional deductions). The highest gross salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
▲Top 5 — Highest Take-Home
Civil Engineer Salary by State — All 50 States
Take-home estimates for a single filer with no additional deductions. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Gross Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $105,000 | $82,456 | |
| $102,000 | $80,345 | |
| $105,000 | $77,956 | |
| $105,000 | $76,723 | |
| $102,000 | $75,995 | |
| $108,000 | $75,917 | |
| $100,000 | $74,901 | |
| $100,000 | $74,051 | |
| $98,000 | $73,879 | |
| $92,000 | $73,310 | |
| $92,000 | $73,310 | |
| $92,000 | $73,310 | |
13New York | $100,000 | $73,116 |
14Illinois | $94,000 | $70,807 |
| $88,000 | $70,496 | |
16Arizona | $90,000 | $70,028 |
| $90,000 | $69,601 | |
18Delaware | $92,000 | $69,075 |
| $90,000 | $68,903 | |
20Hawaii | $95,000 | $68,221 |
21Ohio | $88,000 | $67,941 |
| $84,000 | $67,682 | |
23Oregon | $95,000 | $67,501 |
24Utah | $88,000 | $67,175 |
| $88,000 | $67,029 | |
| $92,000 | $65,726 | |
| $85,000 | $65,411 | |
28Michigan | $85,000 | $65,411 |
29Georgia | $86,000 | $65,191 |
30Missouri | $85,000 | $64,921 |
| $80,000 | $64,868 | |
| $85,000 | $64,676 | |
33Indiana | $82,000 | $64,165 |
| $78,000 | $63,461 | |
| $80,000 | $63,243 | |
36Kansas | $82,000 | $62,925 |
37Idaho | $82,000 | $62,389 |
38Nebraska | $82,000 | $62,362 |
39Alabama | $80,000 | $62,268 |
| $80,000 | $62,203 | |
| $82,000 | $61,987 | |
42Kentucky | $80,000 | $61,943 |
43Oklahoma | $80,000 | $61,781 |
44Maine | $82,000 | $61,485 |
45Vermont | $82,000 | $61,183 |
46Iowa | $80,000 | $61,163 |
47Montana | $80,000 | $61,033 |
48Arkansas | $78,000 | $60,689 |
| $75,000 | $58,951 | |
| $75,000 | $58,651 |
Maximize Your Take-Home
401(k) — $24,500 max
Reduces taxable income dollar-for-dollar
HSA — $4,400 single
Triple tax advantage — deductible, grows tax-free, tax-free withdrawals
FSA — $3,300 max
Medical expenses with pre-tax dollars
State consideration
Moving to TX, FL, WA can save $5,000–$15,000/year in taxes
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home as a Civil Engineer
Add 401(k), HSA, dependents, and more to see your personalized take-home in your state.
Open Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about your taxes and our calculator.
Civil Engineer Salary by State — Detailed Pages
Alabama
$62,268
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$80,345
net
Arizona
$70,028
net
Arkansas
$60,689
net
California
$75,917
net
Colorado
$73,879
net
Connecticut
$75,995
net
Delaware
$69,075
net
FloridaNo state tax
$70,496
net
Georgia
$65,191
net
Hawaii
$68,221
net
Idaho
$62,389
net
Illinois
$70,807
net
Indiana
$64,165
net
Iowa
$61,163
net
Kansas
$62,925
net
Kentucky
$61,943
net
Louisiana
$65,411
net
Maine
$61,485
net
Maryland
$74,901
net
Massachusetts
$77,956
net
Michigan
$65,411
net
Minnesota
$65,726
net
Mississippi
$58,951
net
Missouri
$64,921
net
Montana
$61,033
net
Nebraska
$62,362
net
NevadaNo state tax
$73,310
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$73,310
net
New Jersey
$76,723
net
New Mexico
$62,203
net
New York
$73,116
net
North Carolina
$67,029
net
North Dakota
$63,243
net
Ohio
$67,941
net
Oklahoma
$61,781
net
Oregon
$67,501
net
Pennsylvania
$69,601
net
Rhode Island
$68,903
net
South Carolina
$61,987
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$63,461
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$67,682
net
TexasNo state tax
$73,310
net
Utah
$67,175
net
Vermont
$61,183
net
Virginia
$74,051
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$82,456
net
West Virginia
$58,651
net
Wisconsin
$64,676
net
WyomingNo state tax
$64,868
net