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The 10 Best States for Civil Engineers in 2026
Civil engineering remains a vital profession in the United States, with opportunities available in every state. Contrary to the belief that civil engineers are primarily concentrated in regions like California or the Southern states, job availability spans across the nation.
Recognizing the importance of this profession, we at Zippia analyzed the current job market to identify the best states for civil engineers to thrive, focusing on job availability and competitive salaries across all experience levels.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and other credible sources, we compiled a list of states that offer the most promising opportunities for civil engineers in 2026:
This list highlights the states where civil engineers can expect not just jobs but also fair compensation throughout their careers.
Curious about how we arrived at this ranking? Read on to learn about our methodology and discover more details about the top ten states.
If you’re looking for more career insights, check out these articles:
- Best Companies to Work For in Houston
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How We Determined the Best States for Civil Engineers
At Zippia, we engage with a diverse array of job seekers. Our research indicates that two key factors are paramount for professionals in their career decisions:
- Job availability
- Competitive salaries
To identify the best states for civil engineers, we evaluated job availability and salary competitiveness, utilizing criteria sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics for 2023:
- Location quotient: A measure of how prevalent civil engineering jobs are in each state.
- Average annual salary for civil engineers.
- Average annual salary for entry-level positions.
- Average annual salary for experienced professionals.
To ensure fair comparisons across states, we adjusted salary data according to each state’s cost of living. This adjustment is crucial as it allows for an accurate assessment of how far salaries stretch in different regions. For example, while civil engineers in California may earn an average of $109,680, the higher cost of living means that the salary in a state like Illinois, which averages $94,570, may provide a better standard of living.
We assigned rankings for each criterion from 1 to 50, where 1 represents the best performance. By averaging these rankings, we created a Job Score for each state, with the lowest score indicating the top state for civil engineers.
1. Texas
Total Jobs: 24,460
Average Annual Salary: $102,990
Average Entry Level Salary: $55,460
Average Experienced Salary: $166,010
Location Quotient: 0.95
2. Virginia
Total Jobs: 10,610
Average Annual Salary: $94,780
Average Entry Level Salary: $56,940
Average Experienced Salary: $144,090
Location Quotient: 1.31
3. Illinois
Total Jobs: 10,970
Average Annual Salary: $94,570
Average Entry Level Salary: $58,450
Average Experienced Salary: $138,220
Location Quotient: 0.87
4. Louisiana
Total Jobs: 3,000
Average Annual Salary: $98,700
Average Entry Level Salary: $59,490
Average Experienced Salary: $141,480
Location Quotient: 0.74
5. Mississippi
Total Jobs: 1,450
Average Annual Salary: $85,880
Average Entry Level Salary: $54,330
Average Experienced Salary: $128,380
Location Quotient: 0.61
6. Wyoming
Total Jobs: 850
Average Annual Salary: $85,220
Average Entry Level Salary: $53,980
Average Experienced Salary: $113,440
Location Quotient: 1.49
7. Oklahoma
Total Jobs: 2,360
Average Annual Salary: $91,090
Average Entry Level Salary: $52,940
Average Experienced Salary: $132,560
Location Quotient: 0.7
8. Tennessee
Total Jobs: 3,490
Average Annual Salary: $93,810
Average Entry Level Salary: $53,010
Average Experienced Salary: $139,010
Location Quotient: 0.56
9. Alabama
Total Jobs: 4,370
Average Annual Salary: $84,320
Average Entry Level Salary: $48,470
Average Experienced Salary: $131,130
Location Quotient: 1.06
10. Missouri
Total Jobs: 5,320
Average Annual Salary: $86,710
Average Entry Level Salary: $52,350
Average Experienced Salary: $125,510
Location Quotient: 0.9
There You Have It – The Best States to Be a Civil Engineer
If you’re launching your civil engineering career, these states should be at the top of your list. They offer competitive salaries, job availability, and opportunities for advancement.
On the flip side, here are the states that currently present the least opportunity for civil engineers:
For further insights, explore these articles:
- The 100 Highest Paying Jobs in Austin
- The 100 Highest Paying Jobs in Dallas
- The 100 Highest Paying Jobs in Fort Worth
- The 100 Highest Paying Jobs in Houston
- The 100 Highest Paying Jobs in San Antonio
- The 100 Highest Paying Jobs in Texas
- The 100 Largest Companies in Texas
Detailed List of the Best States for Civil Engineers
| Rank | State | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | $102,990 |
| 2 | Virginia | $94,780 |
| 3 | Illinois | $94,570 |
| 4 | Louisiana | $98,700 |
| 5 | Mississippi | $85,880 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $85,220 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | $91,090 |
| 8 | Tennessee | $93,810 |
| 9 | Alabama | $84,320 |
| 10 | Missouri | $86,710 |
| 11 | Washington | $93,120 |
| 12 | Colorado | $93,560 |
| 13 | Nevada | $100,700 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $86,270 |
| 15 | Arkansas | $81,780 |
| 16 | Nebraska | $84,240 |
| 17 | Michigan | $82,240 |
| 18 | Indiana | $82,420 |
| 19 | Florida | $89,480 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $83,460 |
| 21 | Delaware | $91,410 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $88,840 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $82,840 |
| 24 | Georgia | $81,110 |
| 25 | Kansas | $82,340 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $90,760 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $88,740 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $84,660 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $82,210 |
| 30 | Iowa | $83,940 |
| 31 | Utah | $80,690 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $78,660 |
| 33 | Idaho | $78,280 |
| 34 | Montana | $77,480 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $103,760 |
| 36 | Arizona | $84,770 |
| 37 | Ohio | $82,180 |
| 38 | California | $109,680 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $77,030 |
| 40 | Oregon | $88,270 |
| 41 | Connecticut | $93,630 |
| 42 | Maryland | $86,110 |
| 43 | New York | $102,250 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $86,680 |
| 45 | Massachusetts | $94,210 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | $83,970 |
| 47 | Maine | $82,160 |
| 48 | Vermont | $74,960 |
| 49 | Rhode Island | $87,220 |
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.
