Civil Engineer salary in Madison, WI
Civil Engineers in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $99,010 a year ($47.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,530 workers.
Pay ranges from $72,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,040 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $100,840. Pay here is 5% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $94,600. There are 3.7 civil engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $102,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for civil engineers in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,980 | $35.09 |
| 25th percentile | $80,950 | $38.92 |
| Median | $99,010 | $47.60 |
| 75th percentile | $122,490 | $58.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,040 | $64.44 |
| Average (mean) | $102,270 | $49.17 |
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 | $8,250.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,125.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,808.08 |
| Weekly | $1,904.04 |
| Hourly | $47.60 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $104,740 | 3,350 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $98,830 | 220 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $96,580 | 90 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $96,190 | 2,330 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $95,870 | 190 |
| Kenosha, WI | $95,090 | 50 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $94,390 | 90 |
| Green Bay, WI | $93,660 | 450 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $93,280 | 190 |
| Appleton, WI | $92,590 | 350 |
| Wausau, WI | $85,790 | 90 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $85,740 | 150 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $82,870 | 130 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $82,760 | 230 |
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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $100,370 | $48.25 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $99,680 | $47.93 |
| Electrical Engineer | $102,420 | $49.24 |
| Engineers, All Other | $110,360 | $53.06 |
| Environmental Engineer | $90,560 | $43.54 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $82,200 | $39.52 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $103,170 | $49.60 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $86,330 | $41.51 |
| Materials Engineer | $111,050 | $53.39 |
| Chemical Engineer | $97,190 | $46.73 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $72,210 | $34.71 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $99,210 | $47.70 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $76,970 | $37.00 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $65,420 | $31.45 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for civil engineers in the Madison, WI metro area is $99,010 a year, or $47.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $72,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid civil engineers make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of civil engineers in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $134,040 a year. The top 25% earn $122,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for civil engineers in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $72,980 a year, and a quarter of civil engineers earn $80,950 or less.
How many civil engineers work in Madison, WI?
About 1,530 civil engineers are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.