Civil Engineer Hourly Pay in Chapel Hill, NC: $46.74 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a civil engineer working in Chapel Hill, NC runs $46.74 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $97,216 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Weighted against Chapel Hill's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.6, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $49.93 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $58,329 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, civil engineers earn a median hourly rate of $46.74, which is slightly below the national average of $49.76 per hour. This hourly pay is particularly relevant for part-time professionals, such as those working three days a week, who can benefit from flexible job arrangements without sacrificing income potential. Typical work environments range from consulting firm offices with advanced software setups like CAD and Revit to construction site field offices and government agency facilities. Entry-level civil engineers in Chapel Hill start around $30.55 per hour, while the most experienced can earn up to $72.45 per hour. These figures provide a comprehensive perspective on the civil engineer hourly pay in Chapel Hill, reflecting estimated earnings derived from annual salary data.
About the Chapel Hill Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($92,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Civil Engineer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $30.55 | $244.42 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $35.89 | $287.12 |
| Median (P50) | $46.74 | $373.90 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $59.75 | $478.01 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $72.45 | $579.57 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Chapel Hill
Based on $46.74/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $46.74/hr, a civil engineer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Chapel Hill, NC can expect to earn approximately $97,214 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $56,085. With a cost-of-living index of 93.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Chapel Hill.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Chapel Hill
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,869.51 | $8,101 | $97,214 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,121.70 | $4,861 | $58,329 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $747.80 | $3,240 | $38,886 |
Compare CE, PE Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineer (Chapel Hill) | $46.74 |
| 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 Chapel Hill, NC earn a median of $97,216 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.06% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 0.30% above the North Carolina state average of $96,925.
Civil Engineer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $46.74/hr = $58,329/year (purchasing power: $62,317).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $97,214/year (purchasing power: $103,862).
CoL index: 93.6 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$39.32/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$45.54/hr
2026 Current Est.
$46.74/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Chapel Hill (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $39.32/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $40.00/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $39.76/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $40.62/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $43.30/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $41.33/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $45.54/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $46.74/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $47.97/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for civil engineers in Chapel Hill grew 15.8% from $39.32/hr (2019) to $45.54/hr (2025). At a 2.63% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $47.97/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 Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill
Prospective civil engineers considering part-time roles can find that working 24 hours a week can yield around $58,807 annually, significantly less than full-time earnings but still viable as supplementary income. The market for per diem civil engineers in Chapel Hill sees rates ranging significantly; many professionals bill between $100 and $180 hourly, with specialized experts, such as forensic engineers, charging upwards of $250 to $500 per hour. Hourly rates can fluctuate depending on the employing organization, with consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs often offering competitive wages compared to federal agencies such as the USACE or local public works departments. Potential candidates should weigh the benefits of lower hourly rates that include health insurance against higher rates that may lack benefits. Negotiating starts with understanding the local landscape, including the realities of the civil engineer hourly rate in NC, paving the way for successful career planning.
More salary data for Chapel Hill, 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 Chapel Hill. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Chapel Hill is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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