Civil Engineers pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $168,240 or more. The middle half of civil engineers in Houston earn between $80,010 and $130,990.
- $67K10th
- $80K25th
- $101KMedian
- $131K75th
- $168K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $111,370 | $9,281 | $53.54 |
| Median | $100,950 | $8,412 | $48.53 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,010 | $6,668 | $38.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $130,990 | $10,916 | $62.98 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Civil Engineers pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Civil engineers in Houston earn 7% more than the Texas average ($104,250) and about the same as the U.S. average ($108,670). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $100,840.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $111,370 | $100,950 | $67,250 | $168,240 | 12,140 |
| Texas | $104,250 | $96,860 | $63,240 | $164,330 | 34,870 |
| United States | $108,670 | $100,840 | $68,240 | $163,220 | 367,840 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Civil Engineers salary after taxes in Houston
On the average salary of $111,370, a single filer in Houston takes home about $87,179 a year, or $7,265 a month and $3,353 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for civil engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $111,370 buys what about $112,918 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Civil Engineers salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 2nd of 25 Texas metro areas for this job; Midland pays the most ($116,500).
- Midland$116,500
- Houston$111,370
- Austin$106,510
- Corpus Christi$106,480
- Beaumont$105,290
- Killeen$103,380
- Dallas$102,080
- San Antonio$96,180
- Tyler$95,840
- Odessa$94,400
Highest-paying cities for civil engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($137,910).
- San Jose, CA$137,910
- San Francisco, CA$136,350
- Napa, CA$130,620
- Sacramento, CA$129,650
- Redding, CA$124,340
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Civil Engineers salary in Houston: questions
How much do civil engineers make an hour in Houston?
$53.55 an hour on average, and $48.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level civil engineers salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the civil engineers take-home pay in Houston?
About $87,179 a year ($7,265 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $111,370. Texas has no state income tax.
Do civil engineers earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($108,670).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2051; area Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.56, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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