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Civil Engineer VI Salary in the United States

How much does a Civil Engineer VI make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Civil Engineer VI in the United States is $192,757 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $93.

However, a Civil Engineer VI's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $227,441
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $172,410 to $210,912
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $153,885
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Civil Engineer VI Salaries

A Civil Engineer VI's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Civil Engineer VI Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Civil Engineer VI's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Civil Engineer IV (7+ years): $123,948
  • Civil Engineer V (7-10 years): $148,036
  • Civil Engineer VI (10-12 years): $192,757
  • Civil Engineering Supervisor I (12+ years): $84,409
  • Civil Engineering Supervisor II (12+ years): $116,511
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Civil Engineer IV7+ years$123,948
Civil Engineer V7-10 years$148,036
Civil Engineer VI10-12 years$192,757
Civil Engineering Supervisor I12+ years$84,409
Civil Engineering Supervisor II12+ years$116,511
View as Graph

How Do Civil Engineer VIs Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Civil Engineer VIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $213,421.
  • California: $212,611.
  • Massachusetts: $209,777.

Top Paying Cities for Civil Engineer VI

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $243,124
  • San Francisco: $240,462
  • Oakland: $235,395

What Skills Can Increase a Civil Engineer VI's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 5.29% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Hydraulics (Mentioned in 2.25% Job Postings): Hydraulics is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids.
  • CAD (Mentioned in 1.26% Job Postings): Computer-aided design is the use of computers to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 5.29%
Hydraulics 2.25%
CAD 1.26%
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What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Civil Engineer VI's salary.

  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Scheduling: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Project Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment $219,743
14%
Scheduling $212,033
10%
Project Engineering $208,178
8%
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Civil Engineer VI Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Civil Engineer VI salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $215,780. While startup companies pay approximate $182,545.

Civil Engineer VI Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $182,545
Growth Stage 51~500 $193,063
Established 501~5000 $208,374
Enterprise 5000+ $215,780

Civil Engineer VI Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Civil Engineer VI roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 110% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Civil Engineer positions in Insurance or Internet typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Civil Engineer VI as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Civil Engineer VI

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$289,136$139.050%
Biotechnology$269,860$130.040%
Business Services$260,222$125.035%
Chemicals$250,584$120.030%
Construction$240,946$116.025%

Civil Engineer VI Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Civil Engineer VI's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$172,410
Average $192,757/year
$210,912
$14,368
Average $16,063/month
$17,576
$3,316
Average $3,707/week
$4,056
$83
Average $93/hour
$101
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $210,912 $17,576 $4,056 $101
Average $192,757 $16,063 $3,707 $93
25th Percentile $172,410 $14,368 $3,316 $83

Civil Engineer VI Salary Growth & Career Path

Civil Engineer VI

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Advancement

For a Civil Engineer VI, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Civil Engineering Supervisor I role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $84,409 - a projected growth of -56% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Civil Engineer VI

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Civil Engineer VI

Here are companies hiring for Civil Engineer VI and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Civil Engineer VI

1. Where can a Civil Engineer VI earn the most?

A Civil Engineer VI's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Civil Engineer VI earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Civil Engineer VI is $243,124.

2. What is the highest pay for Civil Engineer VI?

The highest pay for Civil Engineer VI is $227,441.

3. What is the lowest pay for Civil Engineer VI?

The lowest pay for Civil Engineer VI is $153,885.

4. What are the responsibilities of Civil Engineer VI?

Plans, designs, and supervises the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects such as airports, bridges, channels, dams, railroads, or roads. Analyzes the design effectiveness and structural reliability of major projects including assessing and testing materials. Performs the necessary data collection and calculations in areas such as traffic forecasting, soil capacity, groundwater analysis, and structure design. Estimates costs including personnel and material needs, prepares proposals, and establishes completion dates. Leads inspections of aging or compromised structures. May oversee improvement projects. Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering. Requires Professional Engineer License (PE). Typically reports to a manager. Typically requires 12+ years of related experience. Achievement and depth of knowledge of specialization or field is the main differentiator. Advisory role on complex and challenging projects and initiatives. Recognized for deep technical and industry knowledge and innovative thinking. Provides thought leadership and guidance to a functional area and the organization.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Civil Engineer VI?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Civil Engineer VI roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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