Civil Engineer salary in Washington
Civil Engineers in Washington earn a median of $110,000 a year ($52.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,590 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,670 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $100,840. Washington ranks 3rd of 51 states for civil engineers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 3.5 civil engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $117,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for civil engineers in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,840 | $39.35 |
| 25th percentile | $96,230 | $46.27 |
| Median | $110,000 | $52.89 |
| 75th percentile | $133,050 | $63.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,670 | $77.25 |
| Average (mean) | $117,670 | $56.57 |
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 | $9,166.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,583.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,230.77 |
| Weekly | $2,115.38 |
| Hourly | $52.89 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Walla Walla, WA | $123,030 | 190 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $121,370 | 630 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $116,480 | 7,680 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $116,210 | 300 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $108,240 | 860 |
| Bellingham, WA | $107,790 | 220 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $106,280 | 4,180 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $102,750 | 60 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $101,300 | 150 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $100,510 | 600 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $100,510 | 180 |
| Yakima, WA | $100,510 | 210 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $78,090 | 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 |
Related jobs in Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | $110,430 | $53.09 |
| Electrical Engineer | $132,710 | $63.81 |
| Industrial Engineer | $129,050 | $62.04 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $158,370 | $76.14 |
| Engineers, All Other | $134,570 | $64.70 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $130,270 | $62.63 |
| Environmental Engineer | $125,460 | $60.32 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $169,120 | $81.31 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $129,480 | $62.25 |
| Materials Engineer | $139,840 | $67.23 |
| Chemical Engineer | $128,290 | $61.68 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $126,590 | $60.86 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $109,550 | $52.67 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $134,800 | $64.81 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for civil engineers in Washington is $110,000 a year, or $52.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid civil engineers make in Washington?
The top 10% of civil engineers in Washington earn at least $160,670 a year. The top 25% earn $133,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for civil engineers in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,840 a year, and a quarter of civil engineers earn $96,230 or less.
How many civil engineers work in Washington?
About 12,590 civil engineers are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.