Civil engineers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Civil engineers in the United States earn a median salary of $100,840 per year — about $48 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 369K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +5%.
AI & Automation Risk
Civil engineering involves significant digital knowledge work, including CAD design, data analysis, and cost estimation, which are highly susceptible to AI-driven productivity gains. However, the role is anchored by the necessity for physical site inspections, real-world surveying, and the legal accountability of a Professional Engineer (PE) license, which requires human judgment and liability that AI cannot currently replace.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato, MNBEST VALUE | $128,220 | Below avg (91.0) | $140,971 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $107,400 | Below avg (85.1) | $126,200 |
| Redding, CA | $126,000 | Average (100.7) | $125,144 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $123,030 | Average (98.5) | $124,879 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $112,430 | Below avg (90.8) | $123,849 |
| Mobile, AL | $107,810 | Below avg (88.1) | $122,375 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $130,150 | Above avg (106.7) | $122,012 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $121,370 | Average (100.1) | $121,274 |
| Decatur, AL | $103,490 | Below avg (87.2) | $118,665 |
| Monroe, LA | $99,180 | Below avg (83.6) | $118,641 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $100,300 | Below avg (84.8) | $118,255 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $130,280 | Above avg (110.4) | $117,983 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $100,950 | Below avg (86.1) | $117,269 |
| Fresno, CA | $119,720 | Average (102.2) | $117,191 |
| Jackson, MI | $107,320 | Below avg (91.8) | $116,933 |