Civil Engineers pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $136,990 or more. The middle half of civil engineers in Charleston earn between $63,210 and $111,940.
- $52K10th
- $63K25th
- $95KMedian
- $112K75th
- $137K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,150 | $7,846 | $45.26 |
| Median | $94,810 | $7,901 | $45.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,210 | $5,268 | $30.39 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $111,940 | $9,328 | $53.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Civil Engineers pay in Charleston vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Civil engineers in Charleston earn 3% more than the West Virginia average ($91,220) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($108,670). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $100,840.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $94,150 | $94,810 | $51,640 | $136,990 | 280 |
| West Virginia | $91,220 | $86,930 | $51,640 | $132,960 | 1,300 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $94,150, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $71,642 a year, or $5,970 a month and $2,755 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for civil engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $94,150 buys what about $106,124 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 1.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Civil Engineers salary in other West Virginia cities
Charleston ranks 4th of 7 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Weirton pays the most ($98,930).
- Weirton$98,930
- Huntington$95,540
- Morgantown$94,770
- Charleston$94,150
- Beckley$92,330
- Wheeling$88,810
- Parkersburg$77,050
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 Charleston: questions
How much do civil engineers make an hour in Charleston?
$45.27 an hour on average, and $45.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level civil engineers salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the civil engineers take-home pay in Charleston?
About $71,642 a year ($5,970 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,150.
Do civil engineers earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than 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 Charleston, WV (16620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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 state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.13, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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