Civil Engineer Salary in Waterbury, CT: $102,240 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Waterbury, CT earns a median $102,240/year (≈ $49.15/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Waterbury's price level (0% above national, BEA RPP 99.8), that paycheck buys what $102,467 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.7% below the Connecticut state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, civil engineers in Waterbury, Connecticut, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $102,240. This figure represents slight underperformance against the national median of $103,492, but the local earning potential remains robust, with salaries ranging from $74,530 at the 10th percentile to $153,801 at the 90th percentile. Such earnings reflect the value placed on obtaining a Professional Engineer (PE) license, which is essential for advancing to more senior roles and increasing compensation. Official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS data reveals that, with a growing job market, Waterbury is cultivating a strong environment for civil engineers across the spectrum of the profession.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $74,530 | $35.83 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $79,631 | $38.28 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $102,240 | $49.15 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $130,084 | $62.54 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $153,801 | $73.94 |
Median Salary Position
1.21% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Waterbury
In Waterbury, CT, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $79,271 (2026 est.). At $102,240, the local median is 1.21% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Waterbury: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Waterbury Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Waterbury median: $102,240/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Waterbury Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Average | $106,168 | -3.70% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -1.21% less |
Civil Engineers in Waterbury, CT earn a median of $102,240 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.21% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 3.70% below the Connecticut state average of $106,168.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Waterbury has a cost of living 0.22% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Waterbury, CT has a cost-of-living index of 99.778 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $102,240 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $102,467 in an average-cost city — an effective 0.22% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$77,870
2025 BLS Actual
$99,620
2026 Current Est.
$102,240
2019–2027 Growth
+34.7%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Waterbury (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $77,870 | Actual |
| 2020 | $79,020 | Actual |
| 2021 | $76,360 | Actual |
| 2022 | $92,480 | Actual |
| 2023 | $94,680 | Actual |
| 2024 | $99,900 | Actual |
| 2025 | $99,620 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $102,240 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $104,929 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Waterbury metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 27.9% from $77,870 (2019) to $99,620 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $104,929 by 2027 — a total increase of $27,059 (34.75%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Waterbury 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $74,530 – $79,631 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $79,631 – $102,240 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $102,240 – $130,084 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $130,084 – $153,801 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Waterbury
Around 350 civil engineers are currently employed in Waterbury, contributing to a stable job market amid a cost of living index of 99.778, indicating affordability compared to national averages. The demand for qualified civil engineering professionals is further heightened by the impact of infrastructure spending, particularly from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which fuels projects across the area. Companies such as AECOM and Jacobs tend to pay higher salaries, especially for those in specialized fields like geotechnical or structural engineering. Variations in pay can also stem from the firm’s tier, project involvement, and the pathways taken—whether on the technical track or project management. For engineers aiming to maximize their civil engineer pay in Waterbury, obtaining a PE license and gaining experience in high-demand specialties are crucial strategies to enhance their earning potential.
More salary data for Waterbury, CT:
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $99,620 for civil engineersin the Waterbury metropolitan area. A 2.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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