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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Bridge Design Engineer in the United States stands at $70,594 per year, or approximately $34 per hour. This salary can vary significantly based on factors such as experience, location, and the specific employer.
Entry-level positions typically start around $55,000, while experienced engineers can earn upwards of $90,000. Those with specialized skills, such as knowledge of advanced design software or extensive project management experience, may command higher salaries.
Geographic location plays a crucial role in salary differences. States like California and New York often offer the highest salaries due to higher living costs and increased demand for infrastructure projects. Conversely, regions with fewer projects may see lower salary averages.
Bridge Design Engineers are essential in ensuring the safety and functionality of transportation networks. With ongoing urban development and infrastructure upgrades, job prospects in this field remain strong. Exploring various employers, including government agencies and private firms, can provide insights into the best opportunities available.
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The highest-paying states for bridge design engineers are California, Colorado, and Alabama. The lowest average bridge design engineer salary states are Tennessee, South Dakota, and Georgia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $87,215 | $41.93 |
| 2 | Colorado | $80,195 | $38.56 |
| 3 | Alabama | $77,622 | $37.32 |
| 4 | Oregon | $73,194 | $35.19 |
| 5 | Alaska | $76,362 | $36.71 |
| 6 | Washington | $73,148 | $35.17 |
| 7 | Missouri | $75,588 | $36.34 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $74,315 | $35.73 |
| 9 | Delaware | $71,572 | $34.41 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | $73,527 | $35.35 |
| 11 | Maryland | $73,873 | $35.52 |
| 12 | Texas | $69,271 | $33.30 |
| 13 | Mississippi | $72,494 | $34.85 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $69,123 | $33.23 |
| 15 | Maine | $70,226 | $33.76 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $70,301 | $33.80 |
| 17 | Vermont | $69,465 | $33.40 |
| 18 | Utah | $67,733 | $32.56 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $69,658 | $33.49 |
| 20 | New York | $72,421 | $34.82 |
| 21 | Indiana | $69,233 | $33.29 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $70,057 | $33.68 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $72,397 | $34.81 |
| 24 | Nevada | $68,158 | $32.77 |
| 25 | Virginia | $68,211 | $32.79 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $65,515 | $31.50 |
| 27 | Montana | $66,534 | $31.99 |
| 28 | Idaho | $67,405 | $32.41 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $67,150 | $32.28 |
| 30 | Arizona | $63,999 | $30.77 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $70,376 | $33.83 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $67,973 | $32.68 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $65,914 | $31.69 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $66,924 | $32.17 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $65,318 | $31.40 |
| 36 | Illinois | $65,818 | $31.64 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $63,513 | $30.54 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $64,847 | $31.18 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $59,713 | $28.71 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $63,081 | $30.33 |
| 41 | Florida | $62,946 | $30.26 |
| 42 | Kansas | $62,547 | $30.07 |
| 43 | Ohio | $61,610 | $29.62 |
| 44 | Iowa | $59,339 | $28.53 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $60,179 | $28.93 |
| 46 | Michigan | $57,273 | $27.54 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $58,543 | $28.15 |
| 48 | Georgia | $57,369 | $27.58 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $59,235 | $28.48 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $56,779 | $27.30 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $56,791 | $27.30 |
The highest-paying cities for bridge design engineers are San Francisco, CA, Denver, CO, and Saint Louis, MO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $91,916 | $44.19 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $80,051 | $38.49 |
| 3 | Saint Louis, MO | $75,598 | $36.35 |
| 4 | Glastonbury, CT | $74,277 | $35.71 |
| 5 | Eugene, OR | $73,996 | $35.58 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $73,955 | $35.56 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $73,399 | $35.29 |
| 8 | Penfield, NY | $71,611 | $34.43 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $70,301 | $33.80 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $69,683 | $33.50 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $69,244 | $33.29 |
| 12 | South Bend, IN | $69,176 | $33.26 |
| 13 | Richmond, VA | $68,160 | $32.77 |
| 14 | Missoula, MT | $67,873 | $32.63 |
| 15 | New Orleans, LA | $67,766 | $32.58 |
| 16 | Bethlehem, PA | $67,215 | $32.31 |
| 17 | Tallahassee, FL | $64,821 | $31.16 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $64,092 | $30.81 |
| 19 | Charleston, WV | $62,979 | $30.28 |
| 20 | Akron, OH | $61,748 | $29.69 |
A bridge design engineer's salary ranges from $55,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $89,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $89,000 | $7,417 | $43 |
| 75th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| Average | $70,594 | $5,883 | $34 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| 10th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
The highest paying types of bridge design engineers are senior design engineer, resident engineer, and senior structural engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structural Engineering Internship | $47,072 | $3,923 | $22.63 | 105,826 |
| Civil/Structural Engineer | $74,421 | $6,202 | $35.78 | 20,123 |
| Civil Engineering Internship | $52,597 | $4,383 | $25.29 | 109,733 |
| Geotechnical Engineer | $74,831 | $6,236 | $35.98 | 15,062 |
| Structural Designer | $63,273 | $5,273 | $30.42 | 51,432 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
Top companies hiring bridge design engineers now:
Bridge design engineer salaries at CnS and Volkert are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average bridge design engineer salary at companies like Jacobs Enterprises and HDR are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CnS | $77,913 | $37.46 |
| 2 | Volkert | $75,540 | $36.32 |
| 3 | Jacobs Enterprises | $73,963 | $35.56 |
| 4 | HDR | $73,471 | $35.32 |
| 5 | Murraysmith | $73,353 | $35.27 |
| 6 | Finley Engineering | $72,964 | $35.08 |
| 7 | Gannett Fleming | $72,427 | $34.82 |
| 8 | RESOURCE | $72,203 | $34.71 |
| 9 | Collins Engineers | $71,964 | $34.60 |
| 10 | Michael Baker | $71,891 | $34.56 |
| 11 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $71,756 | $34.50 |
| 12 | STV Group | $71,462 | $34.36 |
| 13 | Goodwin Recruiting | $71,383 | $34.32 |
| 14 | AECOM | $71,189 | $34.23 |
| 15 | TranSystems | $71,031 | $34.15 |
| 16 | PRIME AE Group | $70,935 | $34.10 |
| 17 | Aerotek | $70,539 | $33.91 |
| 18 | Obec | $70,537 | $33.91 |
| 19 | T.Y. Lin International | $70,260 | $33.78 |
| 20 | Stantec | $69,583 | $33.45 |
The average bridge design engineer salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Telecommunication | $72,956 | $35.08 |
| 2 | Technology | $71,793 | $34.52 |
| 3 | Government | $70,176 | $33.74 |
| 4 | Professional | $69,536 | $33.43 |
The average bridge design engineer salary has risen by $8,432 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average bridge design engineer earned $62,162 annually, but today, they earn $70,594 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for bridge design engineers over the last decade.
Compare bridge design engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare bridge design engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $70,600 | $33.94 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $69,400 | $33.36 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $69,100 | $33.20 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $67,600 | $32.48 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $66,600 | $32.01 | +1.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Baker | Senior Bridge Design Engineer | Boston, MA | 06/29/2025 | $120,000 |
| Mark Thomas & Company | Experienced Bridge Design Engineer (EIT) | Oakland, CA | 06/29/2025 | $75,000 |
| Graham & Associates | Bridge Design Engineer-Civil Structural | Kansas City, MO | 06/29/2025 | $90,000 |
| Transystems Corporation | Staff Bridge Engineer/Project Bridge Designer | Boston, MA | 06/28/2025 | $85,000 |
| Selectek, Inc. | Bridge Designer | Indianapolis, IN | 06/25/2025 | $90,000 |
| Parsons | Bridge Cadd Design | Chicago, IL | 06/20/2025 | $62,506 |
| Remington & Vernick Engineers, Inc. | Bridge Design Engineer | Secaucus, NJ | 06/16/2025 | $92,000 |
| Collins Engineers, Inc. | Bridge Design-Senior Engineer (48261) | Denver, CO | 06/11/2025 | $125,000 |
| Woolpert | Bridge Design Engineer | Columbus, OH | 06/10/2025 | $71,600 |
| Arcadis | Project Bridge Design Engineer | Tampa, FL | 06/10/2025 | $107,281 |
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