Civil Engineer salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Civil Engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $93,940 a year ($45.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 740 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,990 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $100,840. Pay here is 7% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $100,730. There are 2.2 civil engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $102,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for civil engineers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,970 | $32.68 |
| 25th percentile | $79,240 | $38.10 |
| Median | $93,940 | $45.16 |
| 75th percentile | $125,730 | $60.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,990 | $79.32 |
| Average (mean) | $102,390 | $49.23 |
Half of civil engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,828.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,914.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,613.08 |
| Weekly | $1,806.54 |
| Hourly | $45.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Civil Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $102,370 | 3,730 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $101,440 | 4,640 |
| Burlington, NC | $100,220 | 40 |
| Asheville, NC | $100,170 | 400 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $96,080 | 210 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $95,800 | 60 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $94,720 | 130 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $94,680 | 1,990 |
| Wilmington, NC | $94,450 | 460 |
| Greenville, NC | $94,410 | 150 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $93,460 | 620 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $90,070 | 80 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $85,490 | 50 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $84,170 | 350 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $75,620 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for civil engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $122,500 |
| Alaska | $114,730 |
| Washington | $110,000 |
| Massachusetts | $106,730 |
| Louisiana | $105,380 |
| Oregon | $105,250 |
| New Jersey | $104,660 |
| Nevada | $104,310 |
| New Mexico | $103,900 |
| District of Columbia | $103,880 |
See Civil Engineer pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $102,890 | $49.47 |
| Electrical Engineer | $129,030 | $62.03 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $101,650 | $48.87 |
| Engineers, All Other | $127,710 | $61.40 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $175,110 | $84.19 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $99,050 | $47.62 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $155,680 | $74.85 |
| Chemical Engineer | $117,440 | $56.46 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,950 | $51.90 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $116,780 | $56.15 |
| Materials Engineer | $117,000 | $56.25 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $62,420 | $30.01 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,320 | $30.92 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $98,620 | $47.41 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for civil engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $93,940 a year, or $45.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid civil engineers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of civil engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $164,990 a year. The top 25% earn $125,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for civil engineers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,970 a year, and a quarter of civil engineers earn $79,240 or less.
How many civil engineers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 740 civil engineers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.