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Civil Structural Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Civil Structural Engineer in the United States is $76,132 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $87,434
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $70,830 to $82,048
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $66,003
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Civil Structural Engineer Salaries

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

How Do Civil Structural Engineer 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 Structural Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $84,294.
  • California: $83,974.
  • Massachusetts: $82,855.

Top Paying Cities for Civil Structural Engineers

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: $96,026
  • San Francisco: $94,974
  • Oakland: $92,973

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 16.94% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Engineering Services (Mentioned in 1.63% Job Postings): Engineering services" means any service or creative work, the adequate performance of which requires engineering education, training and experience in the application of special knowledge of the mathematical, physical and engineering sciences
  • Business Development (Mentioned in 1.1% Job Postings): Business development entails tasks and processes to develop and implement growth opportunities within and between organizations. It is a subset of the fields of business, commerce and organizational theory. Business development is the creation of long-term value for an organization from customers, markets, and relationships. Business development can be taken to mean any activity by either a small or large organization, non-profit or for-profit enterprise which serves the purpose of ‘developing’ the business in some way. In addition, business development activities can be done internally or externally by a business development consultant. External business development can be facilitated through Planning Systems, which are put in place by governments to help small businesses. In addition, reputation building has also proven to help facilitate business development.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 16.94%
Engineering Services 1.63%
Business Development 1.1%
See More Skills

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 Structural Engineer's salary.

  • Renewable Energy: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Business Development: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Renewable Energy $81,462
7%
Presentation $80,700
6%
Business Development $79,939
5%
Get Latest Data

Civil Structural Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Civil Structural Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Business Services and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Civil Structural Engineer positions in Construction or Energy & Utilities typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Civil Structural Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Civil Structural Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Business Services$91,359$44.020%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$83,746$40.010%

How Education impacts a Civil Structural Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Civil Structural Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Civil Structural Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $68,238 and $74,629).

Civil Structural Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Civil Structural Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 0.4%
Associates 1.0%
Bachelors 42.6%
Masters 51.4%
Doctorate 4.6%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Civil Structural Engineer'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 September 01, 2026
$70,830
Average $76,132/year
$82,048
$5,903
Average $6,344/month
$6,837
$1,362
Average $1,464/week
$1,578
$34
Average $37/hour
$39
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $82,048 $6,837 $1,578 $39
Average $76,132 $6,344 $1,464 $37
25th Percentile $70,830 $5,903 $1,362 $34

Most common benefits for Civil Structural Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Civil Structural Engineer

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

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FAQ about Civil Structural Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Civil Structural Engineer?

The Business Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Civil Structural Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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