Civil Engineer Hourly Pay in Phoenix, AZ: $44.57 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a civil engineer working in Phoenix, AZ runs $44.57 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $92,706 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Weighted against Phoenix's regional price level (BEA RPP 103.3, 3% above national), each hour of work buys what $43.14 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $55,626 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Phoenix, Arizona, the civil engineer hourly pay stands at a median rate of $44.57, which is notably lower than the national median of $49.76. This rate is crucial for part-time professionals working three days a week, as they can anticipate earnings reflective of this hourly wage while also maintaining a balanced work schedule. Part-time workers typically excel in environments like consulting firm offices equipped with CAD and Revit workstations, construction site field offices, government DOT locations, or even via hybrid setups for plan-checking. Entry-level civil engineers can expect to earn around $31.45 hourly, while seasoned professionals in the top percentile can command rates as high as $68.70. The official Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 2026 reflects these trends in Phoenix's evolving engineering landscape.
Civil Engineer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $31.45 | $251.57 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $38.36 | $306.90 |
| Median (P50) | $44.57 | $356.58 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $53.54 | $428.34 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $68.70 | $549.60 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Phoenix
Based on $44.57/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $44.57/hr, a civil engineer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Phoenix, AZ can expect to earn approximately $92,710 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $53,487. With a cost-of-living index of 103.32 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Phoenix.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Phoenix
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,782.89 | $7,726 | $92,710 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,069.73 | $4,636 | $55,626 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $713.16 | $3,090 | $37,084 |
Compare CE, PE Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineer (Phoenix) | $44.57 |
| Mechanical Engineer (National Avg) | $48.61 |
| Electrical Engineer (National Avg) | $54.18 |
| Architect (National Avg) | $45.72 |
| Construction Manager (National Avg) | $51.87 |
Civil Engineers in Phoenix, AZ earn a median of $92,706 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.42% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 2.20% below the Arizona state average of $94,791.
Civil Engineer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $44.57/hr = $55,626/year (purchasing power: $53,841).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $92,710/year (purchasing power: $89,735).
CoL index: 103.316 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$37.19/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$43.43/hr
2026 Current Est.
$44.57/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+23.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Phoenix (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $37.19/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $37.93/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $38.04/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $39.26/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $40.56/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $45.86/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $43.43/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $44.57/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $45.74/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for civil engineers in Phoenix grew 16.8% from $37.19/hr (2019) to $43.43/hr (2025). At a 2.63% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $45.74/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem civil engineers can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Phoenix metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.63% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Civil Engineer in Phoenix
For those considering a part-time civil engineer role, working an average of 24 hours a week could translate to a take-home of roughly $55,500 annually based on the hourly rate, particularly appealing given the flexibility. Additionally, per diem civil engineers in Phoenix often see higher compensation, billing anywhere from $100 to $180 per hour due to the nature of their contract-based work. Experienced structural and forensic engineers acting as expert witnesses can command even broader pay scales, billing rates of $250 to $500 per hour. In Phoenix, hourly rates are influenced by the type of employer; engineering consulting firms and Fortune 500 construction companies tend to offer more competitive wages compared to local public works departments or smaller firms. While some professionals might opt for slightly lower hourly compensation in exchange for benefits like health insurance, others prioritize higher hourly rates that come without such safety nets. Civil engineers negotiating their hourly pay should understand local market conditions and emphasize their unique skills or specialized experience to achieve better offers.
More salary data for Phoenix, AZ:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Chen, P.E.
Career Analyst
Jordan Chen has 10 years of experience in structural engineering. He works primarily in urban infrastructure projects.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for civil engineers in Phoenix. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.63%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for civil engineers (SOC 17-2051).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Chen, P.E., a licensed civil engineer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov