Civil Engineers · North Carolina

Civil Engineers Salary in North Carolina

Civil Engineers in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $100,730 —0.1% below the national median of $100,840. That ranks NC #18 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$100,730
Median hourly
$48.43
Entry level (P10)
$70,760
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$160,520
90th percentile
Employment
12,810
2.6 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-0.1%
U.S. $100,840

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$70,760
$79,140
$100,730
$125,730
$70,760$100,730$160,520
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $100,730.

Employment concentration (1.10×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for civil engineers

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1California$122,500$58.8955,1801.28
2Alaska$114,730$55.161,6702.17
3Washington$110,000$52.8912,5901.50
4Massachusetts$106,730$51.319,4501.10
5Louisiana$105,380$50.663,7800.82
6Oregon$105,250$50.604,8901.05
7New Jersey$104,660$50.326,9000.68
8Nevada$104,310$50.153,5600.97
9New Mexico$103,900$49.951,3500.66
10District of Columbia$103,880$49.941,6500.99

Related occupations in North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

OccupationNorth Carolina medianU.S. median
Industrial Engineers$99,310$102,440
Mechanical Engineers$100,720$104,110
Electrical Engineers$110,130$120,630
Engineers, All Other$112,450$122,930
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$95,700$99,280
Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,750$66,150

Frequently asked questions

How much do civil engineers make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for civil engineers in North Carolina is $100,730, or $48.43 per hour. That is 0.1% below the national median of $100,840.

What is the entry-level civil engineers salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $70,760 per year ($34.02/hour). The 25th percentile is $79,140.

How many people work as civil engineers in North Carolina?

About 12,810 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 2.6 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for civil engineers?

North Carolina ranks #18 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.10x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays civil engineers the most?

California has the highest median wage at $122,500 per year, followed by Alaska ($114,730) and Washington ($110,000).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes