Civil Engineer Salary in Cleveland Heights, OH: $93,679 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Cleveland Heights, OH earns a median $93,679/year (≈ $45.03/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Cleveland Heights's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.7), that paycheck buys what $103,284 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.1% below the Ohio state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
With a projected median annual salary of $93,679 in 2026, civil engineers in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, find themselves slightly behind the national average of $103,492. Salary ranges in this area vary significantly, with entry-level positions starting around $66,214 and experienced professionals earning up to $145,202. These figures are derived from estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, adjusted to reflect regional price parities and local cost structures. The influx of infrastructure spending, prompted by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, has further stimulated the hiring market, creating opportunities for engineers in both consulting firms and government roles.
About the Cleveland Heights Market
Salary estimated from Ohio average ($92,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $66,214 | $31.84 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $75,315 | $36.21 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $93,679 | $45.03 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $118,131 | $56.80 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $145,202 | $69.81 |
Median Salary Position
9.48% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Cleveland Heights
In Cleveland Heights, OH, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $78,988 (2026 est.). At $93,679, the local median is 9.48% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Cleveland Heights: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Cleveland Heights Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Cleveland Heights median: $93,679/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Cleveland Heights Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Average | $98,713 | -5.10% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -9.48% less |
Civil Engineers in Cleveland Heights, OH earn a median of $93,679 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.48% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 5.10% below the Ohio state average of $98,713.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Cleveland Heights has a cost of living 9.30% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Cleveland Heights, OH has a cost-of-living index of 90.7 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $93,679 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $103,284 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.25% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$78,805
2025 BLS Actual
$91,278
2026 Current Est.
$93,679
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Cleveland Heights (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $78,805 | Actual |
| 2020 | $80,171 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,701 | Actual |
| 2022 | $81,412 | Actual |
| 2023 | $86,797 | Actual |
| 2024 | $79,183 | Actual |
| 2025 | $91,278 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $93,679 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $96,142 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Cleveland Heights metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 15.8% from $78,805 (2019) to $91,278 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $96,142 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,337 (22.00%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cleveland Heights 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) | $66,214 – $75,315 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $75,315 – $93,679 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $93,679 – $118,131 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $118,131 – $145,202 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Cleveland Heights
Analyzing the civil engineer pay in Cleveland Heights, it’s noteworthy that there are currently nine civil engineers employed in the area, creating a tight-knit professional community. The local cost of living index, set at 90.7, suggests that even though salaries may appear lower compared to the national median, purchasing power remains viable. Prominent employers like AECOM and Jacobs tend to offer the highest compensation, addressing the upward pay balance attributed to various factors such as PE licensing, specialization in areas like structural engineering, and a propensity for consulting firms to reward experience more generously than public sector roles. For engineers looking to maximize their pay, obtaining a Professional Engineer license, actively pursuing specialty certifications, and aligning with high-tier firms are practical strategies to enhance their earning potential in Cleveland Heights, OH.
More salary data for Cleveland Heights, OH:
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 $91,278 for civil engineersin the Cleveland Heights 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 Cleveland Heights 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