Project Engineer Salary By State: Highest-Paid Project Engineers by State [2026]
Research Summary: The Zippia data science team has conducted comprehensive research to provide insights into project engineer salaries across the United States as of 2026:
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Washington offers the highest average salary for project engineers at $86,370.
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Montana has the lowest average project engineer salary at $63,593.
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The national average salary for project engineers is $75,050.
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The national hourly wage for project engineers stands at $36.08.
For more details, refer to the specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains the top priority for job seekers across various demographics. Many want to know: how much do project engineers earn in their area?
While individual salaries may vary based on location and experience, the data provides a strong foundation for understanding what project engineers can expect to earn. The state that currently offers the most competitive salary for project engineers is Washington.
Here’s a brief overview of the top ten states for project engineer salaries:
Let’s explore the full ranking of all states and how they compare.
Highest-Paid Project Engineers By State
| Rank | State | Average Project Engineer Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $86,370 | $64,000 | $115,000 |
| 2 | Maryland | $86,093 | $64,000 | $114,000 |
| 3 | California | $85,922 | $64,000 | $114,000 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $84,971 | $63,000 | $114,000 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $84,049 | $63,000 | $111,000 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $82,853 | $61,000 | $111,000 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $82,719 | $60,000 | $113,000 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $82,516 | $61,000 | $110,000 |
| 9 | New York | $82,193 | $61,000 | $110,000 |
| 10 | Delaware | $81,981 | $61,000 | $109,000 |
| 11 | Texas | $81,745 | $60,000 | $110,000 |
| 12 | Virginia | $80,634 | $60,000 | $107,000 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $80,481 | $60,000 | $107,000 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $80,449 | $59,000 | $108,000 |
| 15 | Vermont | $79,722 | $59,000 | $106,000 |
| 16 | Alaska | $79,581 | $66,000 | $94,000 |
| 17 | Idaho | $79,415 | $59,000 | $106,000 |
| 18 | Oregon | $79,307 | $59,000 | $105,000 |
| 19 | Arizona | $78,944 | $59,000 | $105,000 |
| 20 | Maine | $78,338 | $58,000 | $104,000 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $78,280 | $59,000 | $103,000 |
| 22 | Illinois | $77,840 | $58,000 | $102,000 |
| 23 | Colorado | $77,409 | $58,000 | $103,000 |
| 24 | Nevada | $76,164 | $56,000 | $102,000 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $76,027 | $56,000 | $102,000 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $75,407 | $56,000 | $100,000 |
| 27 | Michigan | $75,351 | $56,000 | $100,000 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $75,232 | $56,000 | $100,000 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $74,193 | $56,000 | $98,000 |
| 30 | Ohio | $73,556 | $55,000 | $97,000 |
| 31 | Alabama | $73,307 | $54,000 | $98,000 |
| 32 | Georgia | $73,200 | $54,000 | $98,000 |
| 33 | Indiana | $72,726 | $55,000 | $96,000 |
| 34 | Utah | $72,673 | $53,000 | $97,000 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $72,360 | $54,000 | $95,000 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $72,358 | $53,000 | $97,000 |
| 37 | Missouri | $71,831 | $54,000 | $94,000 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $71,799 | $53,000 | $95,000 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $71,625 | $54,000 | $94,000 |
| 40 | Iowa | $70,939 | $53,000 | $93,000 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $70,213 | $53,000 | $92,000 |
| 42 | Florida | $69,734 | $49,000 | $98,000 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $69,271 | $52,000 | $91,000 |
| 44 | Kansas | $68,181 | $51,000 | $90,000 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $68,168 | $51,000 | $91,000 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $67,985 | $50,000 | $91,000 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $67,747 | $51,000 | $89,000 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $64,985 | $53,000 | $79,000 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $63,953 | $48,000 | $85,000 |
| 50 | Montana | $63,593 | $47,000 | $84,000 |
Methodology: Project Engineer Salary By State
To gain a comprehensive understanding of project engineer salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reliable sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and job postings. The data science team calculates a weighted average based on this information to generate accurate salary estimates for project engineers by state.
We ranked each state based on average annual salary estimates for project engineers, with the state offering the highest salary positioned at the top.
Project Engineer Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for project engineers?
The highest-paid state for project engineers is Washington, with an average salary of $86,370 per year.
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What city pays project engineers the most?
Richmond, CA offers the highest average salary for project engineers at $91,529 per year.
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What is the worst state for project engineers?
The state with the lowest average salary for project engineers is Montana, with an average salary of $63,593 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
