Civil Engineer Salary in Charlotte, NC: $105,062 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Charlotte, NC earns a median $105,062/year (≈ $50.51/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Charlotte's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.3), that paycheck buys what $107,924 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 8.4% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, civil engineers in Charlotte, North Carolina are projected to earn a median annual salary of $105,062, slightly above the national median of $103,492, reflecting the city's robust infrastructure investment climate bolstered by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The salary range for civil engineers is projected from $75,731 at the 10th percentile to $169,329 at the 90th percentile, indicating a healthy disparity between entry-level positions and more experienced engineers. These figures, derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) surveys, highlight an environment ripe for career growth, matching the increasing demand for engineering talent spurred by extensive public spending on infrastructure.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $75,731 | $36.41 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $81,365 | $39.11 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $105,062 | $50.51 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $133,091 | $63.98 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $169,329 | $81.41 |
Median Salary Position
1.52% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Charlotte
In Charlotte, NC, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $93,598 (2026 est.). At $105,062, the local median is 1.52% above the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Charlotte: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Charlotte Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Charlotte median: $105,062/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Charlotte Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $96,921 | +8.40% more |
| National Average | $103,492 | +1.52% more |
Civil Engineers in Charlotte, NC earn a median of $105,062 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.52% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 8.40% above the North Carolina state average of $96,921.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Charlotte has a cost of living 2.65% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Charlotte, NC has a cost-of-living index of 97.348 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $105,062 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $107,924 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.72% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$80,710
2025 BLS Actual
$102,370
2026 Current Est.
$105,062
2019–2027 Growth
+33.6%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Charlotte (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $80,710 | Actual |
| 2020 | $82,850 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,380 | Actual |
| 2022 | $81,290 | Actual |
| 2023 | $94,750 | Actual |
| 2024 | $100,040 | Actual |
| 2025 | $102,370 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $105,062 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $107,825 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Charlotte metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 26.8% from $80,710 (2019) to $102,370 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $107,825 by 2027 — a total increase of $27,115 (33.60%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Charlotte 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) | $75,731 – $81,365 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $81,365 – $105,062 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $105,062 – $133,091 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $133,091 – $169,329 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Charlotte
The local job market for civil engineers is strong, with approximately 3,730 professionals employed across the region. Charlotte’s cost of living index, sitting at 97.348, suggests that take-home pay may stretch further compared to other urban areas, allowing for a comfortable lifestyle. Major employers in the area include prestigious engineering consulting firms such as AECOM and Jacobs, which tend to offer higher wages. Salary disparities can be influenced by factors including specialization, with structural and transportation engineers often commanding premium pay. Obtaining a Professional Engineer (PE) license can lead to significantly higher compensation, particularly for project managers and senior individual contributors. To maximize earnings in this competitive field, civil engineers should consider pursuing advanced certifications, focusing on in-demand specialties, and leveraging connections within both the public and private sectors in Charlotte, NC.
More salary data for Charlotte, NC:
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 $102,370 for civil engineersin the Charlotte 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