Civil Engineer Hourly Pay in Asheville, NC: $49.43 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a civil engineer working in Asheville, NC runs $49.43 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $102,804 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Weighted against Asheville's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.5, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $51.22 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $61,684 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Asheville, North Carolina, civil engineers command a median hourly pay of $49.43, which closely aligns with the national median of $49.76. This means that those working part-time—typically around three days a week—can expect to earn an impressive rate, making this profession particularly lucrative for those seeking flexibility. Additionally, the hourly range from $34.57 for entry-level positions to $77.96 for top earners reflects ample opportunity to grow in this field. Civil engineers often find themselves in dynamic work environments, including consulting firm offices equipped with CAD, Revit, and AutoCAD systems, as well as on construction site field offices and government departments. The data presented here is extracted from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, providing a solid foundation for understanding hourly earning trends in this profession.
Civil Engineer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $34.57 | $276.53 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $38.26 | $306.08 |
| Median (P50) | $49.43 | $395.41 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $61.22 | $489.75 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $77.96 | $623.66 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Asheville
Based on $49.43/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $49.43/hr, a civil engineer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Asheville, NC can expect to earn approximately $102,807 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $59,312. With a cost-of-living index of 96.51 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Asheville.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Asheville
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,977.06 | $8,567 | $102,807 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,186.24 | $5,140 | $61,684 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $790.83 | $3,427 | $41,123 |
Compare CE, PE Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineer (Asheville) | $49.43 |
| 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 Asheville, NC earn a median of $102,804 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.66% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 6.10% above the North Carolina state average of $96,894.
Civil Engineer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $49.43/hr = $61,684/year (purchasing power: $63,918).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $102,807/year (purchasing power: $106,529).
CoL index: 96.506 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$36.30/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$48.16/hr
2026 Current Est.
$49.43/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+39.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Asheville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $36.30/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $38.20/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $37.38/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $38.66/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $42.84/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $46.91/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $48.16/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $49.43/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $50.73/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for civil engineers in Asheville grew 32.7% from $36.30/hr (2019) to $48.16/hr (2025). At a 2.63% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $50.73/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 Asheville 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 Asheville
For civil engineers in Asheville considering part-time arrangements, working just 24 hours a week could yield an annual take-home that remains competitive, although it differs markedly from full-time earnings. Per-diem civil engineers and those under 1099 contracts can sometimes charge significantly higher rates, ranging from $100 to $180 per hour for general tasks, while specialized roles, such as expert witnesses, may command as much as $250 to $500 per hour. The diverse landscape of employers—from engineering consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs to local public works departments and federal agencies—offers various pay structures. While some may opt for roles with lower hourly rates that include health benefits, others might prefer higher pay without such perks to maintain flexible working conditions. Those navigating salary negotiations in Asheville should consider not only their base hourly rate but also the intangible benefits, particularly as infrastructure projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continue to shape the market.
More salary data for Asheville, NC:
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 Asheville. 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