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Civil Engineering Designer Salary in the United States

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

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Civil Engineering Designer in the United States is $111,878 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $54.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $127,972
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $102,287 to $120,302
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $93,555
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Civil Engineering Designer Salaries

A Civil Engineering Designer'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 Designer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Civil Engineering Designer'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): $76,018
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $92,546
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $112,544
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $127,067
  • Expert (over 8 years): $151,748
Levels Salary
Civil Eng... Level Civil Engineering Designer$76,018
Civil Eng... Level Civil Engineering Designer$92,546
Civil Eng... Level Civil Engineering Designer$112,544
Civil Eng... Level Civil Engineering Designer$127,067
Civil Eng... Level Civil Engineering Designer$151,748
View as Graph

How Do Civil Engineering Designer 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 Designers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $123,871.
  • California: $123,401.
  • Massachusetts: $121,757.

Top Paying Cities for Civil Engineering Designers

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: $141,112
  • San Francisco: $139,567
  • Oakland: $136,625

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.97% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Equipment Maintenance (Mentioned in 3.33% Job Postings): Keeping business equipment in reliable working order and condition to lessen downtime and assure equipment safety.
  • Diversity and Inclusion (Mentioned in 1.84% Job Postings): Developing and promoting acquaintance, empowerment, and integration of each unique individual to create a productive and safe working environment.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.97%
Equipment Maintenance 3.33%
Diversity and Inclusion 1.84%
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 Designer's salary.

  • Interviewing: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Career Development: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Interviewing $116,353
4%
Career Development $114,116
2%
Leadership $114,116
2%
Get Latest Data

Civil Engineering Designer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Civil Engineering Designer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Civil Engineering Designer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Energy & Utilities typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Civil Engineering Designer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Civil Engineering Designer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$139,848$67.025%
Aerospace & Defense$134,254$65.020%
Transportation$132,016$63.018%
Financial Services$128,660$62.015%
MFG Durable$125,303$60.012%

How Education impacts a Civil Engineering Designer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Civil Engineering Designers 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 Designer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $108,279 and $115,233).

Civil Engineering Designer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Civil Engineering Designer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 0.5%
Associates 0.8%
Bachelors 63.6%
Masters 30.8%
Doctorate 4.4%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Civil Engineering Designer'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 October 01, 2026
$102,287
Average $111,878/year
$120,302
$8,524
Average $9,323/month
$10,025
$1,967
Average $2,152/week
$2,314
$49
Average $54/hour
$58
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $120,302 $10,025 $2,314 $58
Average $111,878 $9,323 $2,152 $54
25th Percentile $102,287 $8,524 $1,967 $49

Most common benefits for Civil Engineering Designer

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

Common company salaries for Civil Engineering Designer

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

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FAQ about Civil Engineering Designer

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

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Civil Engineering Designer roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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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