Best cities for a civil engineer
The best cities for civil engineers are Oakland, CA, Anchorage, AK, and Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for civil engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for civil engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a civil engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for civil engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for civil engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a civil engineer. While the absolute best city for civil engineers is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for civil engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a civil engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for civil engineers in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Civil engineer jobs in OaklandTotal civil engineer jobs: 153 Average annual salary: $98,006 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 8.86 2. Anchorage, AK
Civil engineer jobs in AnchorageTotal civil engineer jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $81,554 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 4.37 3. Las Vegas, NV
Civil engineer jobs in Las VegasTotal civil engineer jobs: 155 Average annual salary: $75,588 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 3.64 4. Sacramento, CA
Civil engineer jobs in SacramentoTotal civil engineer jobs: 102 Average annual salary: $97,531 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 2.71 5. San Francisco, CA
Civil engineer jobs in San FranciscoTotal civil engineer jobs: 120 Average annual salary: $98,133 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 2.08 6. Santa Ana, CA
Civil engineer jobs in Santa AnaTotal civil engineer jobs: 50 Average annual salary: $88,689 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 5.55 7. Anaheim, CA
Civil engineer jobs in AnaheimTotal civil engineer jobs: 34 Average annual salary: $89,017 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 3.71 8. Fresno, CA
Civil engineer jobs in FresnoTotal civil engineer jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $96,098 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 2.57 9. Long Beach, CA
Civil engineer jobs in Long BeachTotal civil engineer jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $89,093 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 3.17 10. Riverside, CA
Civil engineer jobs in RiversideTotal civil engineer jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $88,816 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 3.24
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Best cities for civil engineers
- Oakland, CA
- Anchorage, AK
- Las Vegas, NV
- Sacramento, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Anaheim, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Riverside, CA
Detailed list of the best cities for a civil engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $98,006 | $70,000 | 420,005 | 153 |
| 2 | Anchorage, AK | $81,554 | $67,000 | 298,192 | 40 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $75,588 | $54,000 | 632,912 | 155 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $97,531 | $70,000 | 495,234 | 102 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $98,133 | $70,000 | 870,887 | 120 |
| 6 | Santa Ana, CA | $88,689 | $65,000 | 334,217 | 50 |
| 7 | Anaheim, CA | $89,017 | $65,000 | 351,043 | 34 |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $96,098 | $69,000 | 522,053 | 26 |
| 9 | Long Beach, CA | $89,093 | $65,000 | 470,130 | 35 |
| 10 | Riverside, CA | $88,816 | $64,000 | 324,722 | 35 |
| 11 | Henderson, NV | $75,262 | $53,000 | 292,969 | 12 |
| 12 | Reno, NV | $78,861 | $56,000 | 245,255 | 23 |
| 13 | Corpus Christi, TX | $66,582 | $49,000 | 325,733 | 25 |
| 14 | Irvine, CA | $88,400 | $64,000 | 266,122 | 138 |
| 15 | Tulsa, OK | $70,807 | $53,000 | 403,090 | 36 |
| 16 | Stockton, CA | $97,487 | $70,000 | 307,072 | 10 |
| 17 | New Orleans, LA | $71,070 | $52,000 | 391,495 | 35 |
| 18 | Oklahoma City, OK | $70,912 | $52,000 | 638,367 | 66 |
| 19 | Houston, TX | $66,248 | $49,000 | 2,303,482 | 64 |
| 20 | Norfolk, VA | $75,560 | $57,000 | 245,115 | 44 |
| 21 | Fort Worth, TX | $65,420 | $48,000 | 854,113 | 113 |
| 22 | Oyster Bay, NY | $75,690 | $56,000 | 293,214 | 2 |
| 23 | Virginia Beach, VA | $75,636 | $57,000 | 452,602 | 32 |
| 24 | Raleigh, NC | $69,160 | $52,000 | 458,880 | 81 |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $90,133 | $65,000 | 3,976,322 | 236 |
| 26 | Albuquerque, NM | $67,491 | $49,000 | 559,277 | 48 |
| 27 | Toledo, OH | $63,932 | $48,000 | 278,508 | 15 |
| 28 | Dallas, TX | $65,406 | $48,000 | 1,317,929 | 49 |
| 29 | Louisville, KY | $68,372 | $51,000 | 597,337 | 46 |
| 30 | Lexington, KY | $68,703 | $51,000 | 318,449 | 16 |
| 31 | Pittsburgh, PA | $69,812 | $52,000 | 303,625 | 71 |
| 32 | Laredo, TX | $66,676 | $49,000 | 257,156 | 5 |
| 33 | Nashville, TN | $68,058 | $51,000 | 660,388 | 57 |
| 34 | Newark, NJ | $75,034 | $56,000 | 281,764 | 51 |
| 35 | Kansas City, MO | $66,174 | $49,000 | 481,420 | 101 |
| 36 | El Paso, TX | $65,949 | $48,000 | 683,080 | 20 |
| 37 | Cleveland, OH | $64,407 | $48,000 | 385,809 | 41 |
| 38 | San Jose, CA | $97,629 | $70,000 | 1,025,350 | 80 |
| 39 | Philadelphia, PA | $71,324 | $53,000 | 1,567,872 | 76 |
| 40 | Memphis, TN | $67,687 | $50,000 | 652,717 | 31 |
| 41 | Orlando, FL | $67,504 | $50,000 | 277,173 | 122 |
| 42 | San Antonio, TX | $66,293 | $49,000 | 1,492,510 | 89 |
| 43 | Portland, OR | $75,674 | $54,000 | 639,863 | 82 |
| 44 | Fremont, CA | $97,777 | $70,000 | 233,136 | 10 |
| 45 | Bakersfield, CA | $94,191 | $68,000 | 376,380 | 6 |
| 46 | Greensboro, NC | $68,952 | $52,000 | 287,027 | 13 |
| 47 | Garland, TX | $65,342 | $48,000 | 234,943 | 6 |
| 48 | Columbus, OH | $64,268 | $48,000 | 860,090 | 89 |
| 49 | San Diego, CA | $85,923 | $63,000 | 1,406,630 | 138 |
| 50 | Detroit, MI | $60,181 | $45,000 | 672,795 | 122 |
Highest paying cities for civil engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. civil engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $98,133 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $76,037 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $75,674 |
| 4 | Virginia Beach, VA | $75,636 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $75,594 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $75,588 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $75,337 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $75,045 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $74,429 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $71,324 |
| 11 | Oklahoma City, OK | $70,912 |
| 12 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $69,583 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $69,160 |
| 14 | Richmond, KY | $68,745 |
| 15 | Lakewood, CO | $67,878 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $67,706 |
| 17 | Tampa, FL | $67,633 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $67,398 |
| 19 | Baltimore, MD | $66,695 |
| 20 | San Antonio, TX | $66,293 |
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Updated January 8, 2025