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Civil Engineering Associate Salary in the United States

How much does a Civil Engineering Associate make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Civil Engineering Associate in the United States is $125,074 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $60.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $143,032
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $115,884 to $134,474
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $107,517
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Civil Engineering Associate Salaries

A Civil Engineering Associate'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Civil Engineering Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Civil Engineering Associate'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $91,564
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $107,325
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $125,712
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $150,136
  • Expert (over 8 years): $195,509
Levels Salary
Civil Eng... Level Civil Engineering Associate$91,564
Civil Eng... Level Civil Engineering Associate$107,325
Civil Eng... Level Civil Engineering Associate$125,712
Civil Eng... Level Civil Engineering Associate$150,136
Civil Eng... Level Civil Engineering Associate$195,509
View as Graph

How Do Civil Engineering Associate 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 Engineering Associates. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $138,482.
  • California: $137,957.
  • Massachusetts: $136,118.

Top Paying Cities for Civil Engineering Associates

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: $157,756
  • San Francisco: $156,029
  • Oakland: $152,740

What Skills Can Increase a Civil Engineering Associate's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.06% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • AutoCAD (Mentioned in 3.41% Job Postings): AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design and drafting software application. Developed and marketed by Autodesk, AutoCAD was first released in December 1982 as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.32% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.06%
AutoCAD 3.41%
Microsoft Office 1.32%
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 Engineering Associate's salary.

  • AWS: Can increase your salary by up to 28%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Carpentry: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
AWS $160,095
28%
Insight $143,835
15%
Carpentry $138,832
11%
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Civil Engineering Associate Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Civil Engineering Associate roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 79% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 38% above the average. In contrast, Civil Engineering Associate positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Civil Engineering Associate as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Civil Engineering Associate

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$172,602$83.038%
Financial Services$150,089$72.020%
Telecom$150,089$72.020%
Pharmaceuticals$147,587$71.018%
Energy & Utilities$140,083$67.012%

How Education impacts a Civil Engineering Associate's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Civil Engineering Associates 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 Engineering Associate with a Bachelor's Degree is between $129,739 and $138,650).

Civil Engineering Associate Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Civil Engineering Associate
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 0.3%
Associates 0.7%
Bachelors 59.9%
Masters 34.1%
Doctorate 4.5%
View as Graph

Civil Engineering Associate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Civil Engineering Associate'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
$115,884
Average $125,074/year
$134,474
$9,657
Average $10,423/month
$11,206
$2,229
Average $2,405/week
$2,586
$56
Average $60/hour
$65
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $134,474 $11,206 $2,586 $65
Average $125,074 $10,423 $2,405 $60
25th Percentile $115,884 $9,657 $2,229 $56

Most common benefits for Civil Engineering Associate

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

Common company salaries for Civil Engineering Associate

Here are companies hiring for Civil Engineering Associate and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Civil Engineering Associate

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Civil Engineering Associate?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Civil Engineering Associate roles, with salaries approximately 38% 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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