Civil Engineer salary in Virginia
Civil Engineers in Virginia earn a median of $97,120 a year ($46.69 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,350 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,710 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $100,840. Virginia ranks 34th of 51 states for civil engineers pay. There are 2.8 civil engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $105,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for civil engineers in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,000 | $35.58 |
| 25th percentile | $79,150 | $38.05 |
| Median | $97,120 | $46.69 |
| 75th percentile | $126,780 | $60.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,710 | $72.46 |
| Average (mean) | $105,340 | $50.64 |
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 | $8,093.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,046.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,735.38 |
| Weekly | $1,867.69 |
| Hourly | $46.69 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Civil Engineer salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $101,780 | 8,470 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $100,920 | 150 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $97,530 | 90 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $96,100 | 170 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $94,680 | 1,990 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $94,200 | n/a |
| Richmond, VA | $91,300 | 1,680 |
| Roanoke, VA | $90,720 | 250 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $89,250 | n/a |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $87,510 | 200 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $78,770 | 70 |
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 |
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,180 | $50.09 |
| Electrical Engineer | $119,030 | $57.23 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,550 | $49.30 |
| Engineers, All Other | $148,160 | $71.23 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $119,990 | $57.69 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $143,210 | $68.85 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $139,030 | $66.84 |
| Environmental Engineer | $104,940 | $50.45 |
| Chemical Engineer | $136,380 | $65.57 |
| Materials Engineer | $116,720 | $56.12 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $104,920 | $50.44 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $106,140 | $51.03 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $104,960 | $50.46 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $128,890 | $61.97 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for civil engineers in Virginia is $97,120 a year, or $46.69 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid civil engineers make in Virginia?
The top 10% of civil engineers in Virginia earn at least $150,710 a year. The top 25% earn $126,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for civil engineers in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,000 a year, and a quarter of civil engineers earn $79,150 or less.
How many civil engineers work in Virginia?
About 11,350 civil engineers are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.