Civil Engineer Salary in Pearl City, HI: $119,834 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Pearl City, HI earns a median $119,834/year (≈ $57.62/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Pearl City's price level (19% above national, BEA RPP 119.3), that paycheck buys what $100,448 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.9% below the Hawaii state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

Civil engineers in Pearl City, HI, will find competitive compensation as the anticipated median annual salary reaches $119,834 in 2026. This figure is notably higher than the national median of $103,492, reflecting a robust demand for engineering talent driven by infrastructure investments under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Salaries in this region extend from $78,723 at the 10th percentile to a striking $185,743 at the 90th percentile, demonstrating a diverse earnings potential that corresponds with varying levels of experience, specialty, and employment sector. These figures, which are estimates based on 2025 BLS data adjusted for regional cost variances, illustrate a thriving job market that responds positively to the growing infrastructure development needs in Pearl City.
About the Pearl City Market
Salary estimated from Hawaii average ($108,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $78,723 | $37.85 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $96,939 | $46.60 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $119,834 | $57.62 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $153,388 | $73.74 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $185,743 | $89.30 |
Median Salary Position
15.79% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Pearl City
In Pearl City, HI, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $107,020 (2026 est.). At $119,834, the local median is 15.79% above the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Pearl City: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Pearl City Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Pearl City median: $119,834/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Pearl City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Average | $123,413 | -2.90% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | +15.79% more |
Civil Engineers in Pearl City, HI earn a median of $119,834 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.79% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 2.90% below the Hawaii state average of $123,413.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Pearl City has a cost of living 19.30% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Pearl City, HI has a cost-of-living index of 119.3 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $119,834 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $100,448 — a 16.18% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$100,807
2025 BLS Actual
$116,763
2026 Current Est.
$119,834
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Pearl City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $100,807 | Actual |
| 2020 | $102,556 | Actual |
| 2021 | $101,953 | Actual |
| 2022 | $104,142 | Actual |
| 2023 | $111,031 | Actual |
| 2024 | $125,054 | Actual |
| 2025 | $116,763 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $119,834 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $122,985 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Pearl City metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 15.8% from $100,807 (2019) to $116,763 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $122,985 by 2027 — a total increase of $22,178 (22.00%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Pearl City 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) | $78,723 – $96,939 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $96,939 – $119,834 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $119,834 – $153,388 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $153,388 – $185,743 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Pearl City
With only eight civil engineers currently employed in Pearl City, the market is relatively small but strong. A cost-of-living index of 119.3 indicates that expenses may be higher than the national average, which can impact take-home pay and purchasing power for professionals in this field. Employers such as AECOM and Jacobs offer some of the most lucrative opportunities, often seeking licensed Professional Engineers (PE) to manage complex projects. The pay variance in this area can be attributed to various factors, including the type of engineering work, the employer's tier—whether it be federal agencies, private firms, or local public works—and the specific demands of projects in the wake of increased infrastructure funding. Aspiring civil engineers should consider paths to licensure and specialization in high-demand areas like structural or transportation engineering to maximize their earning potential in this competitive Pearl City market.
More salary data for Pearl City, HI:
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 $116,763 for civil engineersin the Pearl City 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
Salary data for Pearl City 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