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The role of a city engineer is vital to developing and maintaining urban infrastructure. According to recent data, the average salary for city engineers stands at $74,435 annually. However, this figure varies based on several factors including geographic location, level of education, and years of experience.
For instance, city engineers in metropolitan areas may earn significantly more due to demand and cost of living adjustments. States like California and New York often offer higher salaries, reflecting the competitive job market in these regions. Additionally, as city engineers gain experience, their salaries typically increase. Entry-level positions may start at around $60,000, while seasoned professionals can command salaries exceeding $90,000.
Furthermore, specific sectors within city engineering, such as transportation or environmental engineering, can also impact earning potential. Professionals seeking to enhance their career prospects should consider pursuing advanced certifications or degrees, which can lead to higher-paying roles within the field.
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The highest-paying states for city engineers are California, Alaska, and Colorado. The lowest average city engineer salary states are Maryland, Wyoming, and Michigan.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $101,493 | $48.79 |
| 2 | Colorado | $81,647 | $39.25 |
| 3 | Alaska | $86,502 | $41.59 |
| 4 | Oregon | $79,460 | $38.20 |
| 5 | Washington | $80,413 | $38.66 |
| 6 | Missouri | $77,808 | $37.41 |
| 7 | Alabama | $78,428 | $37.71 |
| 8 | Maine | $73,504 | $35.34 |
| 9 | Delaware | $73,537 | $35.35 |
| 10 | Arizona | $72,951 | $35.07 |
| 11 | Vermont | $72,834 | $35.02 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $74,955 | $36.04 |
| 13 | Idaho | $72,580 | $34.89 |
| 14 | Utah | $71,396 | $34.33 |
| 15 | Montana | $70,826 | $34.05 |
| 16 | Nevada | $71,452 | $34.35 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $74,353 | $35.75 |
| 18 | New York | $77,811 | $37.41 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $72,669 | $34.94 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $73,114 | $35.15 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $68,967 | $33.16 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $72,168 | $34.70 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $73,303 | $35.24 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $71,940 | $34.59 |
| 25 | Virginia | $69,895 | $33.60 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $70,615 | $33.95 |
| 27 | Florida | $69,830 | $33.57 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $68,404 | $32.89 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $72,182 | $34.70 |
| 30 | Texas | $67,128 | $32.27 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $67,488 | $32.45 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $69,713 | $33.52 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $65,151 | $31.32 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $67,535 | $32.47 |
| 35 | Indiana | $65,161 | $31.33 |
| 36 | Illinois | $68,069 | $32.73 |
| 37 | New Hampshire | $68,148 | $32.76 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $65,983 | $31.72 |
| 39 | Georgia | $64,092 | $30.81 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $62,488 | $30.04 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $59,030 | $28.38 |
| 42 | Kansas | $64,591 | $31.05 |
| 43 | Ohio | $63,582 | $30.57 |
| 44 | Maryland | $60,121 | $28.90 |
| 45 | Iowa | $61,437 | $29.54 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $59,279 | $28.50 |
| 47 | Michigan | $59,112 | $28.42 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $60,470 | $29.07 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $61,042 | $29.35 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $58,938 | $28.34 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $57,951 | $27.86 |
The highest-paying cities for city engineers are Rohnert Park, CA, Des Moines, WA, and Salem, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rohnert Park, CA | $107,506 | $51.69 |
| 2 | Des Moines, WA | $80,891 | $38.89 |
| 3 | Salem, OR | $79,595 | $38.27 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $77,907 | $37.46 |
| 5 | OFallon, MO | $77,773 | $37.39 |
| 6 | Oklahoma City, OK | $75,146 | $36.13 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $75,053 | $36.08 |
| 8 | Bristol, CT | $74,354 | $35.75 |
| 9 | Prescott, AZ | $73,502 | $35.34 |
| 10 | Brooklyn Center, MN | $72,687 | $34.95 |
| 11 | Riverton, UT | $71,509 | $34.38 |
| 12 | Arlington, VA | $69,957 | $33.63 |
| 13 | Midland, TX | $68,216 | $32.80 |
| 14 | Rock Hill, SC | $66,096 | $31.78 |
| 15 | Rapid City, SD | $61,566 | $29.60 |
| 16 | Detroit, MI | $59,177 | $28.45 |
A city engineer's salary ranges from $56,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $98,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $98,000 | $8,167 | $47 |
| 75th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| Average | $74,435 | $6,203 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| 10th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
The highest paying types of city engineers are resident engineer, senior structural engineer, and engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structural Designer | $63,273 | $5,273 | $30.42 | 51,432 |
| Structural Engineering Internship | $47,072 | $3,923 | $22.63 | 105,826 |
| Structural Design Engineer | $75,662 | $6,305 | $36.38 | 57,187 |
| Civil Designer | $58,421 | $4,868 | $28.09 | 57,036 |
| Civil Engineering Internship | $52,597 | $4,383 | $25.29 | 109,733 |
| Project Field Engineer | $71,292 | $5,941 | $34.27 | 78,589 |
Top companies hiring city engineers now:
City engineer salaries at Icma-rc and Pacifi are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average city engineer salary at companies like City of Detroit and WTS International are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Icma-rc | $100,612 | $48.37 |
| 2 | Pacifi | $93,344 | $44.88 |
| 3 | City of Detroit | $88,180 | $42.39 |
| 4 | WTS International | $80,849 | $38.87 |
| 5 | City of Houston | $80,828 | $38.86 |
| 6 | City of Mesquite, TX | $80,101 | $38.51 |
| 7 | City of Reno | $79,918 | $38.42 |
| 8 | City of Corona | $79,836 | $38.38 |
| 9 | Hilton | $78,203 | $37.60 |
| 10 | City of Concord | $77,782 | $37.40 |
| 11 | PNM Resources | $76,663 | $36.86 |
| 12 | City of Maricopa | $76,587 | $36.82 |
| 13 | Minnesota Limited | $76,032 | $36.55 |
| 14 | American Public Works Association | $75,706 | $36.40 |
| 15 | City of Tomball | $75,499 | $36.30 |
| 16 | City of Austin | $75,491 | $36.29 |
| 17 | Great Bend, Kansas | $75,279 | $36.19 |
| 18 | City Of Pflugerville, Texas | $74,945 | $36.03 |
| 19 | City of O'Fallon | $74,068 | $35.61 |
| 20 | City of Prescott | $74,009 | $35.58 |
The average city engineer salary has risen by $8,892 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average city engineer earned $65,543 annually, but today, they earn $74,435 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for city engineers over the last decade.
Compare city engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare city engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $74,400 | $35.79 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $73,200 | $35.18 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $72,800 | $35.01 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $71,200 | $34.25 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $70,200 | $33.75 | +1.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando Economic Partnership | Assistant City Engineer | Orlando, FL | 06/27/2025 | $94,896 |
| City of Sunny Isles Beach | City Engineer | Sunny Isles Beach, FL | 06/26/2025 | $25,000 |
| City of Forest Lake, Ca | Director of Public Works/City Engineer | Lake Forest, CA | 06/26/2025 | $183,984 |
| Hilton | Engineer-Doubletree By Hilton Washington DC Crystal City | Arlington, TX | 06/25/2025 | $57,977 |
| Pacificorp | Engineer I, II Portland, or or Salt Lake City, UT #113660 | Ione, OR | 06/25/2025 | $78,500 |
| Pacificorp | Engineer (I, II, SR, Srii) Salt Lake City, UT or | Cove, UT | 06/25/2025 | $78,500 |
| Hilton Worldwide | Engineer-Doubletree By Hilton Washington DC Crystal City | Arlington, VA | 06/24/2025 | $57,977 |
| City of South Bend, In | City Engineer | South Bend, IN | 06/18/2025 | $129,051 |
| City of Commerce City | City Engineer | Commerce City, CO | 06/14/2025 | $148,347 |
| City of Orlando (Fl | Assistant City Engineer | Orlando, FL | 06/12/2025 | $94,896 |
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