Civil Engineer Salary in Delaware: $102,143 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Delaware's 6 metropolitan areas, the average median civil engineer pay sits at $102,143/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 17-2051. Because Delaware sits at BEA RPP 101.7 (2% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $100,436 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Newark ($101,893), Wilmington ($101,108), Dover ($99,640).
In 2026, the average median salary for civil engineers in Delaware is projected to be $102,143, which is slightly below the national median of $103,492, reflecting a difference of 1.3%. The salaries among Delaware's cities vary, with Newark leading at $104,573 and Middletown at the lower end with $97,246, creating a salary gap of $7,327. This disparity can be attributed to factors such as the cost of living, local demand for infrastructure projects, and the concentration of engineering firms in metropolitan areas. Civil engineering in Delaware requires state licensing and adherence to specific scope of practice laws, which can influence job eligibility and responsibilities. The projected growth rate for civil engineering positions is 2.63% annually, suggesting a stable increase in job opportunities. With a total of 302 civil engineers employed statewide, cities like Wilmington ($103,767), Dover ($102,261), Bear ($100,864), and Smyrna ($97,508) also present various salary levels driven by localized economic activity and project funding. Overall, while Delaware's salaries are slightly below national averages, the expected job market growth and diverse opportunities across cities indicate a solid environment for civil engineering professionals.
Delaware Civil Engineer Salary Range
Overall salary range in Delaware: $68,678 (lowest entry-level) to $161,676 (highest top earner)
Delaware vs National Average
Delaware civil engineers earn 1.3% less than the national median ($-1,349/year difference).
Delaware Civil Engineer Salary Distribution (2026)
Civil Engineer salaries in Delaware range from $75,280 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $144,218 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $102,143. The Delaware median is $1,349 below the US national median of $103,492. The average hourly rate is $49.10/hr. Approximately 302 civil engineers are employed across 6 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$83,660
2025 BLS Actual
$99,525
2026 Current Est.
$102,143
2019–2027 Growth
+25.3%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Delaware (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $83,660 | Actual |
| 2020 | $81,070 | Actual |
| 2021 | $86,860 | Actual |
| 2022 | $87,390 | Actual |
| 2023 | $93,970 | Actual |
| 2024 | $94,579 | Actual |
| 2025 | $99,525 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $102,143 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $104,829 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Delaware metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 19.0% from $83,660 (2019) to $99,525 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $104,829 by 2027 — a total increase of $21,169 (25.30%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Delaware 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.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Delaware
Lowest Paying Cities in Delaware
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Middletown | $97,246 |
| Smyrna | $97,508 |
| Bear | $100,864 |
| Dover | $102,261 |
| Wilmington | $103,767 |
Best Value Cities for Civil Engineers in Delaware
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Delaware cities offer the most purchasing power for civil engineers.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $102,261 | 97.507 | $104,876 |
| Newark | $104,573 | 101.7 | $102,825 |
| Wilmington | $103,767 | 101.7 | $102,032 |
| Bear | $100,864 | 101.7 | $99,178 |
| Smyrna | $97,508 | 101.7 | $95,878 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Delaware
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $75,280 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $102,143 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $144,218 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Delaware metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 6 Cities in Delaware
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark | $104,573 |
| 2 | Wilmington | $103,767 |
| 3 | Dover | $102,261 |
| 4 | Bear | $100,864 |
| 5 | Smyrna | $97,508 |
| 6 | Middletown | $97,246 |
More Delaware Salary Data
Explore More Civil Engineer Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do civil engineers make in Delaware in 2026?
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How does Delaware civil engineer pay compare to the national average?
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Which Delaware city offers the best value for civil engineers?
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
Statewide 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. A 2.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 civil engineer compensation across Delaware. State averages are employment-weighted across 6 metro areas — larger metro areas with more civil engineerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
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