How Much Do Civil Engineers Make?

Civil engineers specialize in designing complex construction projects to build many of the world’s most utilized structures, including roads, buildings, tunnels, highways, dams, airports, bridges, and water supply systems. They are typically responsible for analyzing survey reports to plan projects, estimating construction costs, evaluating building materials, testing soils for the strength of foundations, using design software to form designs, and supervising the entire construction process of their plans. Today we are going to focus on how much do civil engineers make and learn more about their work environment.

Civil Engineer I

If we look at the salary of a civil engineer I, which is an entry-level position, we’ll see that the median annual salary for this job (as of January 2018, according to salary.com) is $66,307. Usually, the salaries range between $60,697 and $74,840. Of course, there are some who gain even $82,608 a year, but they only represent 10% of this branch. The bottom 10% gains on average $55,589. In the beginning of 2018, the average hourly pay rate for this base position was $32, with the general range being $29 – $36.

Civil Engineer II

For the civil engineer II position, the salary sees a consistent increase. First, we notice that the yearly average pay is $81,687, which is significantly more than the one for civil engineers I. The bottom 25% earn as little as $73,157, while the top 25% can even reach $91,060.

Civil Engineer III

Now, we’re getting closer to the $100,000 milestone, with $99,389 annual average pay for a civil engineer III. The salaries for this position can go as low as $88,701, as a quarter of those occupying this position in 2018 prove. On the other hand, we can see an increase up to $111,961.

Civil Engineer IV

Naturally, the more we advance when talking about how much do civil engineers make, the higher the amount. Thus, we reach the civil engineer IV position. Here, we see that the median yearly pay reaches $104,909. The bottom 25% must be satisfied with much less, namely with $93,552. Meanwhile, the top 25% can even make $117,794 a year. The irony here is the fact that a civil engineer IV with little experience can gain less than a civil engineer III with plenty of experience. As you can see, the salary varies depending on your previous knowledge and how many years you have been employed.

Civil Engineer V

Finally, we reach the uppermost position when it comes to civil engineers. The average yearly pay for a civil engineer V is $124,261. The bottom quarter of people employed in this position must be satisfied with $110,177 a year, while the top 25% enjoys a salary of $139,458.

Work Environment

The majority of civil engineers are employed in architectural, engineering, and related services. Others have found employment by the state, local, and federal government, as well as nonresidential building construction and pipeline transportation. Although civil engineers generally work in an office setting, they may sometimes need to spend time at construction sites to supervise operations or recommend solutions to problems on the site. Nearly all civil engineers have a full-time job, but many work longer hours than a normal 40-hour week to ensure they meet the contractual deadlines.

Future Predictions

Currently, the nation’s infrastructure continues to age. This means that civil engineers will be facing a demand to manage projects to repair bridges, highways, roads, and dams. Growing populations will also spark a need for civil engineers to upgrade water systems. They need to do so to maintain drinkable water and devise waste treatment strategies to clean waterways. However, there are some financial troubles hindering the funding of maintenance projects though. Consequently, employment for civil engineers should grow about as fast as the national average for all professions at a rate of 19 percent before 2020.

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