Civil Engineer Hourly Pay in Olympia, WA: $53.41 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a civil engineer working in Olympia, WA runs $53.41 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $111,087 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Weighted against Olympia's regional price level (BEA RPP 103.7, 4% above national), each hour of work buys what $51.52 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $66,654 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Olympia, Washington, the civil engineer hourly pay for the year 2026 is projected to be $53.41, reflecting a competitive advantage over the national median of $49.76 per hour. This attractive hourly rate provides opportunities for both part-time positions and per-diem arrangements within various work environments, such as consulting firm offices with CAD and Revit workstations, construction site field offices, and remote environments conducting plan checks. For entry-level civil engineers, starting at approximately $41.70 per hour, to those earning as much as $70.09 per hour, the breadth of compensation across Olympia’s job market reveals a healthy range for professionals aiming to establish or advance their careers.
Civil Engineer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $41.70 | $333.59 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $45.75 | $366.02 |
| Median (P50) | $53.41 | $427.27 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $60.98 | $487.86 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $70.09 | $560.69 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Olympia
Based on $53.41/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $53.41/hr, a civil engineer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Olympia, WA can expect to earn approximately $111,090 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $64,090. With a cost-of-living index of 103.67 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Olympia.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Olympia
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,136.35 | $9,257 | $111,090 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,281.81 | $5,554 | $66,654 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $854.54 | $3,703 | $44,436 |
Compare CE, PE Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineer (Olympia) | $53.41 |
| 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 Olympia, WA earn a median of $111,087 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.34% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 0.40% above the Washington state average of $110,644.
Civil Engineer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $53.41/hr = $66,654/year (purchasing power: $64,294).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $111,090/year (purchasing power: $107,157).
CoL index: 103.67 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$40.83/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$52.04/hr
2026 Current Est.
$53.41/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+34.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Olympia (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $40.83/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $42.86/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $47.98/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $45.68/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $45.90/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $49.29/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $52.04/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $53.41/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $54.81/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for civil engineers in Olympia grew 27.5% from $40.83/hr (2019) to $52.04/hr (2025). At a 2.63% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $54.81/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 Olympia 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 Olympia
The dynamics of per-diem civil engineer pay in Olympia highlight a different earning paradigm. For instance, a civil engineer working three days a week (24 hours) can expect to generate around $60,000 annually, which contrasts with full-time counterparts. Commonly, per-diem and contract engineers are able to charge between $100 and $180 per hour, while specialized roles, such as expert witnesses, may command fees as high as $250 to $500 per hour. Hourly rates can fluctuate greatly depending on the type of employer—positions at engineering consulting firms, governmental agencies, or prominent construction companies present varying compensation structures. While some engineers may opt for lower hourly wages in exchange for health benefits and job stability, others may prefer higher-compensated contract work, giving them flexibility at the cost of traditional perks. To effectively negotiate their pay, engineers should consider the landscape of local firms and possess insight into what specific roles within Olympia's civil engineering sector command competitive rates.
More salary data for Olympia, WA:
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 Olympia. 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