Civil Engineer Salary in Urban Honolulu, HI: $97,088 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Urban Honolulu, HI earns a median $97,088/year (≈ $46.68/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Urban Honolulu's price level (11% above national, BEA RPP 111.0), that paycheck buys what $87,497 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 21.4% below the Hawaii state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the civil engineer salary in Urban Honolulu, Hawaii, is projected to reach a median annual figure of $97,088. This places the compensation well below the national median of $103,492, reflecting a difference of approximately 6.19%. The pay range for this profession in Urban Honolulu spans from $64,523 at the 10th percentile to $135,492 at the 90th percentile, indicating significant variability based on experience, specialization, and type of employer. Civil engineers in this region work across different sectors, including consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, governmental organizations such as the state Department of Transportation (DOT), and private construction companies. Each of these sectors offers distinct pay scales and opportunities for career progression, shaping the job market for civil engineers in this vibrant urban environment.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $64,523 | $31.03 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $79,600 | $38.27 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $97,088 | $46.68 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $116,536 | $56.03 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $135,492 | $65.14 |
Median Salary Position
6.19% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Urban Honolulu
In Urban Honolulu, HI, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $70,969 (2026 est.). At $97,088, the local median is 6.19% below the national median of $103,492.
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At 40 hours/week in Urban Honolulu: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Urban Honolulu Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Urban Honolulu median: $97,088/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Urban Honolulu Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Average | $123,522 | -21.40% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -6.19% less |
Civil Engineers in Urban Honolulu, HI earn a median of $97,088 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.19% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 21.40% below the Hawaii state average of $123,522.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Urban Honolulu has a cost of living 10.96% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Urban Honolulu, HI has a cost-of-living index of 110.961 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $97,088 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $87,497 — a 9.88% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$84,120
2025 BLS Actual
$94,600
2026 Current Est.
$97,088
2019–2027 Growth
+18.5%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Urban Honolulu (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $84,120 | Actual |
| 2020 | $86,030 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,570 | Actual |
| 2022 | $82,910 | Actual |
| 2023 | $84,500 | Actual |
| 2024 | $96,160 | Actual |
| 2025 | $94,600 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $97,088 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $99,641 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Urban Honolulu metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 12.5% from $84,120 (2019) to $94,600 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $99,641 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,521 (18.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Urban Honolulu 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) | $64,523 – $79,600 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $79,600 – $97,088 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $97,088 – $116,536 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $116,536 – $135,492 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Urban Honolulu
The local job market has around 2,300 civil engineers employed in Urban Honolulu, a number that is steadily influenced by growing infrastructure demands driven by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). However, the cost of living, with a cost of living index of 110.961, poses challenges for those comparing their salaries to national averages. Employers that are likely to offer higher salaries include leading engineering consulting firms, specialty contractors, and large construction companies, along with the state and federal agencies. The disparity in pay often hinges on factors such as the pursuit of Professional Engineer (PE) licensure—essential for higher-level positions—and the technical specifications of the projects within structural, geotechnical, or transportation engineering fields. To maximize earnings, civil engineers should consider obtaining their PE license and pursuing specialty certifications while staying informed about the competitive landscape between public sector jobs and those in private consulting or construction firms in Urban Honolulu, HI.
More salary data for Urban Honolulu, 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 $94,600 for civil engineersin the Urban Honolulu 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