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Structural steel engineer salary
Average structural steel engineer salary
$74,031
Understanding Structural Steel Engineer Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Structural Steel Engineer stands at $74,031 per year. Salaries can fluctuate depending on factors such as geographic location, level of experience, and the specific sector in which one works.
In states like California and Texas, where construction projects are prevalent, engineers may find higher salary offers. Entry-level positions typically start around $60,000, while those with significant experience can earn upwards of $90,000 annually.
Additionally, the demand for Structural Steel Engineers is expected to rise in response to ongoing infrastructure projects, presenting a wealth of opportunities for job seekers. The ability to adapt to new technologies and practices in the engineering field can further enhance earning potential.
Salary by Experience Level
Engineers with less than five years of experience can expect salaries around $65,000, while those with five to ten years may earn approximately $80,000. Senior engineers, with over ten years of experience, can command salaries exceeding $100,000.
For detailed insights into salary distributions and job opportunities, visit our comprehensive salary guide.
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Where can a Structural Steel Engineer earn more?
Structural steel engineer salaries by experience level
Structural steel engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average structural steel engineer salary by state
The highest-paying states for structural steel engineers are Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. The lowest average structural steel engineer salary states are Tennessee, Maryland, and Michigan.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for structural steel engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $86,417 | $41.55 |
| 2 | Oregon | $78,230 | $37.61 |
| 3 | Washington | $78,822 | $37.90 |
| 4 | Alabama | $78,028 | $37.51 |
| 5 | Maine | $73,389 | $35.28 |
| 6 | Delaware | $73,815 | $35.49 |
| 7 | Vermont | $72,844 | $35.02 |
| 8 | Missouri | $77,602 | $37.31 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $77,457 | $37.24 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | $74,106 | $35.63 |
| 11 | Idaho | $70,993 | $34.13 |
| 12 | California | $74,607 | $35.87 |
| 13 | Louisiana | $72,355 | $34.79 |
| 14 | New York | $75,263 | $36.18 |
| 15 | Iowa | $72,670 | $34.94 |
| 16 | Mississippi | $72,757 | $34.98 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $73,482 | $35.33 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $73,142 | $35.16 |
| 19 | Utah | $69,234 | $33.29 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $68,570 | $32.97 |
| 21 | Indiana | $71,137 | $34.20 |
| 22 | Montana | $69,403 | $33.37 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $70,092 | $33.70 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $71,148 | $34.21 |
| 25 | Nevada | $69,483 | $33.41 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $71,666 | $34.45 |
| 27 | Virginia | $69,625 | $33.47 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $69,891 | $33.60 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $69,379 | $33.36 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $71,699 | $34.47 |
| 31 | Colorado | $67,040 | $32.23 |
| 32 | Illinois | $67,901 | $32.64 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $65,086 | $31.29 |
| 34 | Arizona | $64,636 | $31.07 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $65,361 | $31.42 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $66,554 | $32.00 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $64,570 | $31.04 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | $68,247 | $32.81 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $62,026 | $29.82 |
| 40 | Texas | $62,633 | $30.11 |
| 41 | Kansas | $64,290 | $30.91 |
| 42 | Ohio | $63,347 | $30.46 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $61,321 | $29.48 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $61,648 | $29.64 |
| 45 | Florida | $62,867 | $30.22 |
| 46 | Maryland | $59,460 | $28.59 |
| 47 | Michigan | $59,145 | $28.44 |
| 48 | Georgia | $57,755 | $27.77 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $58,784 | $28.26 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $60,143 | $28.91 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $57,459 | $27.62 |
Highest paying cities for structural steel engineers
The highest-paying cities for structural steel engineers are Salem, OR, Birmingham, AL, and Anaheim, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salem, OR | $78,345 | $37.67 |
| 2 | Birmingham, AL | $78,040 | $37.52 |
| 3 | Anaheim, CA | $73,471 | $35.32 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $73,156 | $35.17 |
| 5 | Shreveport, LA | $72,915 | $35.06 |
| 6 | Greenville, SC | $65,599 | $31.54 |
| 7 | Roswell, GA | $57,856 | $27.82 |
Structural steel engineer salary details
A structural steel engineer's salary ranges from $56,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $97,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a structural steel engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $97,000 | $8,083 | $47 |
| 75th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| Average | $74,031 | $6,169 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| 10th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
Highest paying structural steel engineer jobs
The highest paying types of structural steel engineers are resident engineer, senior structural engineer, and engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Designer | $58,421 | $4,868 | $28.09 | 57,036 |
| Civil Engineering Internship | $52,597 | $4,383 | $25.29 | 109,733 |
| Resident Engineer | $96,425 | $8,035 | $46.36 | 31,388 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Civil Engineer | $70,950 | $5,912 | $34.11 | 26,803 |
| Geotechnical Engineer | $74,831 | $6,236 | $35.98 | 15,062 |
Top companies hiring structural steel engineers now:
Which companies pay structural steel engineers the most?
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RAZ Mobile | $76,304 | $36.68 |
| 2 | Benteler | $73,046 | $35.12 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Structural steel engineer salary trends
The average structural steel engineer salary has risen by $8,843 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average structural steel engineer earned $65,188 annually, but today, they earn $74,031 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for structural steel engineers over the last decade.
Compare structural steel engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average structural steel engineer salary over time
Compare structural steel engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Structural steel engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $74,000 | $35.59 | +1.7% |
| 2025 | $72,800 | $34.99 | +0.5% |
| 2024 | $72,400 | $34.82 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $70,900 | $34.06 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $69,800 | $33.57 | +1.6% |
Recently added structural steel engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webuild Services LLC/Webuild Staffing | Structural Engineer-Steel Design (EIT) | Phoenix, AZ | 06/10/2025 | $60,000 |
| Webuild Services LLC/Webuild Staffing | Structural Engineer-Steel Design (EIT) | Phoenix, AZ | 03/27/2025 | $60,000 |
| Kl & A | Steel Preconstruction Engineer | Ogden, UT | 03/22/2025 | $95,000 |
| Webuild Services LLC/Webuild Staffing | Structural Engineer-Steel Design (EIT) | Phoenix, AZ | 02/19/2025 | $60,000 |
| Webuild Services LLC/Webuild Staffing | Structural Engineer-Steel Design (EIT) | Phoenix, AZ | 01/30/2025 | $60,000 |
| Novax Recruitment Group | Structural Engineer-Steel Fabrication | Greenville, SC | 01/28/2025 | $90,000 |
| Meyer, Borgman & Johnson, Inc. | Steel Connection Engineer I | Minneapolis, MN | 01/23/2025 | $71,760 |
| Meyer, Borgman & Johnson, Inc. | Steel Connection Engineer I | Minneapolis, MN | 01/23/2025 | $71,760 |
| Impact Solutions | Structural Steel Product Mechanical Engineer | Caledonia, WI | 01/16/2025 | $70,000 |
| Impact Solutions | Structural Steel Product Mechanical Engineer | Caledonia, WI | 12/05/2024 | $70,000 |
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