Civil Engineer Hourly Pay in Winchester, VA: $49.80 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a civil engineer working in Winchester, VA runs $49.80 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $103,574 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Weighted against Winchester's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.5, 4% below national), each hour of work buys what $51.63 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $62,146 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Winchester, Virginia, the civil engineer hourly pay is projected to reach a median of $49.80 in 2026, slightly above the national median of $49.76. This hourly rate allows for diverse working situations, making it suitable for part-time professionals who may work three days a week or per-diem roles in various settings like consulting firm offices equipped with CAD software, construction site field offices, or hybrid positions that support remote project management. For entry-level civil engineers, the compensation starts at around $34.62 per hour, while highly experienced professionals can earn up to $71.77 per hour, reflecting the overall demand for civil engineering expertise amid ongoing infrastructure projects, influenced by initiatives like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Civil Engineer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $34.62 | $276.94 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $37.87 | $302.96 |
| Median (P50) | $49.80 | $398.37 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $65.44 | $523.50 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $71.77 | $574.15 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Winchester
Based on $49.80/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $49.80/hr, a civil engineer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Winchester, VA can expect to earn approximately $103,576 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $59,755. With a cost-of-living index of 96.45 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Winchester.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Winchester
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,991.84 | $8,631 | $103,576 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,195.11 | $5,179 | $62,146 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $796.74 | $3,453 | $41,430 |
Compare CE, PE Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineer (Winchester) | $49.80 |
| 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 Winchester, VA earn a median of $103,574 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.08% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 7.10% above the Virginia state average of $96,708.
Civil Engineer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $49.80/hr = $62,146/year (purchasing power: $64,433).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $103,576/year (purchasing power: $107,388).
CoL index: 96.45 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$46.75/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$48.52/hr
2026 Current Est.
$49.80/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+9.3%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Winchester (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $46.75/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $44.01/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $47.13/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $44.62/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $46.15/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $49.85/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $48.52/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $49.80/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $51.11/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for civil engineers in Winchester grew 3.8% from $46.75/hr (2019) to $48.52/hr (2025). At a 2.63% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $51.11/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 Winchester 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 Winchester
Considering part-time opportunities, a civil engineer working 24 hours per week would earn approximately $61,824 annually, a figure that can significantly vary based on the specific work arrangement. Per-diem civil engineers in Winchester often charge between $100 and $180 per hour, while specialized roles, such as structural or forensic engineering, can command even higher fees, with rates ranging from $250 to $500 per hour. Hourly rates also change depending on the type of employer; large engineering consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs may offer steadier employment with benefits, while higher hourly compensation is often available from specialty contractors and freelancing opportunities. Many engineers need to consider the trade-off between stable, benefit-rich positions and freelance gigs that provide greater hourly pay and flexibility. For those negotiating terms, it's essential to clarify expectations regarding benefits versus hourly rates, particularly in a city like Winchester where the cost of living is slightly below the national average.
More salary data for Winchester, VA:
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 Winchester. 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