Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Senior civil engineer salary
Average senior civil engineer salary
$83,749
Understanding Senior Civil Engineer Salaries
The role of a Senior Civil Engineer is critical in shaping infrastructure projects. In the U.S., the average annual salary for this position is about $83,749. Factors influencing this salary include geographical location, with states like California and New York often offering higher pay scales. Additionally, years of experience play a significant role; engineers with over ten years in the field typically earn more than their less experienced counterparts.
In terms of industries, sectors such as government and construction frequently provide competitive salaries for Senior Civil Engineers. For those looking to maximize their earning potential, exploring opportunities in high-paying states or industries can be advantageous. For example, some of the highest-paying jobs in this field can be found in urban development projects, which often require advanced skills and project management capabilities.
Exploring Job Opportunities
Job seekers can utilize platforms like Zippia to find various openings tailored to their skills. With a strong demand for civil engineering professionals, now is an excellent time to pursue a rewarding career in this field.
Let Zippia find your next senior civil engineer job
Let Zippia find your next senior civil engineer job
Where can a Senior Civil Engineer earn more?
Senior civil engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average senior civil engineer salary by state
The highest-paying states for senior civil engineers are California, Alaska, and New York. The lowest average senior civil engineer salary states are South Dakota, Wyoming, and Wisconsin.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for senior civil engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $108,273 | $52.05 |
| 2 | Washington | $88,660 | $42.63 |
| 3 | Alaska | $90,128 | $43.33 |
| 4 | Oregon | $84,385 | $40.57 |
| 5 | Virginia | $85,268 | $40.99 |
| 6 | New York | $88,889 | $42.74 |
| 7 | Alabama | $84,487 | $40.62 |
| 8 | Nevada | $83,203 | $40.00 |
| 9 | Maine | $80,884 | $38.89 |
| 10 | Delaware | $80,841 | $38.87 |
| 11 | Vermont | $79,896 | $38.41 |
| 12 | Utah | $77,857 | $37.43 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $83,293 | $40.04 |
| 14 | Colorado | $80,909 | $38.90 |
| 15 | Idaho | $79,352 | $38.15 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $87,435 | $42.04 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $83,161 | $39.98 |
| 18 | Montana | $75,160 | $36.13 |
| 19 | Missouri | $79,548 | $38.24 |
| 20 | Texas | $74,918 | $36.02 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $77,584 | $37.30 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $76,528 | $36.79 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $73,227 | $35.21 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $76,012 | $36.54 |
| 25 | Arizona | $74,175 | $35.66 |
| 26 | Ohio | $72,967 | $35.08 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $75,504 | $36.30 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $74,954 | $36.04 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $74,082 | $35.62 |
| 30 | Michigan | $71,684 | $34.46 |
| 31 | Illinois | $73,124 | $35.16 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $74,449 | $35.79 |
| 33 | Maryland | $72,218 | $34.72 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $70,579 | $33.93 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $71,323 | $34.29 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $72,365 | $34.79 |
| 37 | Indiana | $70,336 | $33.82 |
| 38 | Florida | $70,612 | $33.95 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $67,668 | $32.53 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $69,625 | $33.47 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $60,181 | $28.93 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $62,217 | $29.91 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $64,019 | $30.78 |
| 44 | Georgia | $64,690 | $31.10 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $64,514 | $31.02 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $63,134 | $30.35 |
| 47 | Kansas | $65,950 | $31.71 |
| 48 | Iowa | $63,319 | $30.44 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $61,805 | $29.71 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $61,668 | $29.65 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $58,942 | $28.34 |
Highest paying cities for senior civil engineers
The highest-paying cities for senior civil engineers are San Rafael, CA, Seattle, WA, and Reno, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Rafael, CA | $120,947 | $58.15 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $89,376 | $42.97 |
| 3 | Reno, NV | $89,346 | $42.95 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $89,055 | $42.81 |
| 5 | Richmond, VA | $84,943 | $40.84 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $83,902 | $40.34 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $83,285 | $40.04 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $81,261 | $39.07 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $80,768 | $38.83 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | $79,568 | $38.25 |
| 11 | Salt Lake City, UT | $77,606 | $37.31 |
| 12 | Tulsa, OK | $75,902 | $36.49 |
| 13 | Dallas, TX | $75,532 | $36.31 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $74,545 | $35.84 |
| 15 | Tallahassee, FL | $73,452 | $35.31 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $73,294 | $35.24 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $72,581 | $34.89 |
| 18 | Annapolis, MD | $72,397 | $34.81 |
| 19 | Detroit, MI | $71,879 | $34.56 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $70,666 | $33.97 |
Senior civil engineer salary details
A senior civil engineer's salary ranges from $60,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $115,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a senior civil engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $115,000 | $9,583 | $55 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,000 | $8,250 | $48 |
| Average | $83,749 | $6,979 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 10th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
Highest paying senior civil engineer jobs
The highest paying types of senior civil engineers are principal engineer, senior engineer, and senior project 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 |
| Project Engineer | $75,050 | $6,254 | $36.08 | 176,689 |
| Structures Engineer | $73,391 | $6,116 | $35.28 | 20,778 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for senior civil engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Raymond Hintz
Professor, University of Maine
Top companies hiring senior civil engineers now:
Which companies pay senior civil engineers the most?
Senior civil engineer salaries at Microsoft and Parsons are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior civil engineer salary at companies like Converse and NTUA are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft | $135,552 | $65.17 |
| 2 | Parsons | $108,022 | $51.93 |
| 3 | Converse | $105,168 | $50.56 |
| 4 | NTUA | $103,329 | $49.68 |
| 5 | City of Detroit | $94,391 | $45.38 |
| 6 | City of Fairfield | $93,925 | $45.16 |
| 7 | City of Seattle | $92,977 | $44.70 |
| 8 | Duquesne Light Company | $92,889 | $44.66 |
| 9 | The Walt Disney Company | $92,451 | $44.45 |
| 10 | Woods Services | $92,137 | $44.30 |
| 11 | Cal | $91,596 | $44.04 |
| 12 | The AES | $89,659 | $43.11 |
| 13 | Metrolink | $89,623 | $43.09 |
| 14 | Valley Metro | $89,300 | $42.93 |
| 15 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $88,835 | $42.71 |
| 16 | City of West Sacramento | $88,415 | $42.51 |
| 17 | Wiley | $88,210 | $42.41 |
| 18 | El Dorado Irrigation District | $87,970 | $42.29 |
| 19 | Energy Inc. | $87,497 | $42.07 |
| 20 | Burns & McDonnell | $87,488 | $42.06 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Senior Civil Engineer salary by industry
The average senior civil engineer salary varies across industries:
- The average senior civil engineer salary in the retail industry is $84,854, the highest of any industry.
- The average senior civil engineer salary in the finance industry is $82,244.
- Senior civil engineers in the professional industry earn an average salary of $81,014, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for senior civil engineers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail | $84,854 | $40.80 |
| 2 | Technology | $82,244 | $39.54 |
| 3 | Government | $81,414 | $39.14 |
| 4 | Construction | $81,384 | $39.13 |
| 5 | Professional | $81,014 | $38.95 |
High paying senior civil engineer jobs
Senior civil engineer salary trends
The average senior civil engineer salary has risen by $10,004 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior civil engineer earned $73,745 annually, but today, they earn $83,749 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for senior civil engineers over the last decade.
Compare senior civil engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average senior civil engineer salary over time
Compare senior civil engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Senior civil engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $83,700 | $40.26 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $82,300 | $39.58 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $81,900 | $39.39 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $80,200 | $38.54 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $79,000 | $37.98 | +1.6% |
Recently added senior civil engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imeg Consultants | Senior Civil Engineer-Site Development | Nashua, NH or | Burlington, MA | 06/29/2025 | $95,000 |
| Akrf, Inc. | Senior Site Civil Engineer | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $85,000 |
| Graham & Associates | SR. Civil Engineer-Project Engineer | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $150,000 |
| KLM Careers | Senior Civil Engineer-PE | Tulsa, OK | 06/29/2025 | $120,000 |
| Parsons | (Hybrid) Senior Engineer-Civil/Highway | Newark, NJ | 06/28/2025 | $86,700 |
| Energynorthwest | Extended Power Uprate Mechanical/Civil Engineer-Principal/Senior/Staff | Richland, WA | 06/28/2025 | $119,107 |
| IMEG | Senior Civil Engineer | Ione, WA | 06/27/2025 | $90,000 |
| System One | Senior Civil Engineer | Cochranton, PA | 06/27/2025 | $46,436 |
| State of Georgia | Office of Engineering Services, Etp125 Gdot Pro Civil Engineer 6/Senior Design Engineer PG:P | Atlanta, GA | 06/27/2025 | $104,500 |
| Langan | Senior Civil Engineer | Melville, NY | 06/26/2025 | $72,000 |
Senior civil engineer salary FAQs
Search for senior civil engineer jobs