Civil Engineer Salary in Chester, PA: $94,253 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Chester, PA earns a median $94,253/year (≈ $45.31/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Chester's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.4), that paycheck buys what $96,769 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.4% below the Pennsylvania state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the civil engineer salary in Chester, Pennsylvania, is projected to reach a median of $94,253, reflecting Philadelphia's influence and the ongoing impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) on local hiring. Salaries for civil engineers in this region are expected to range from $69,406 at the 10th percentile to $143,923 at the 90th percentile. These numbers are local estimates based on 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional price differentials. The focus on infrastructure spending has likely increased the demand for civil engineers, contributing to a competitive job market despite the median salary being approximately 8.93% lower than the national average of $103,492.
About the Chester Market
Salary estimated from Pennsylvania average ($98,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $69,406 | $33.37 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $77,836 | $37.42 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $94,253 | $45.31 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $117,314 | $56.41 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $143,923 | $69.19 |
Median Salary Position
8.93% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Chester
In Chester, PA, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $74,517 (2026 est.). At $94,253, the local median is 8.93% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Chester: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Chester Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Chester median: $94,253/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Chester Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Average | $97,571 | -3.40% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -8.93% less |
Civil Engineers in Chester, PA earn a median of $94,253 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.93% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 3.40% below the Pennsylvania state average of $97,571.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Chester has a cost of living 2.60% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Chester, PA has a cost-of-living index of 97.4 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $94,253 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $96,769 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.67% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$79,288
2025 BLS Actual
$91,838
2026 Current Est.
$94,253
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Chester (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $79,288 | Actual |
| 2020 | $80,663 | Actual |
| 2021 | $80,190 | Actual |
| 2022 | $81,911 | Actual |
| 2023 | $87,330 | Actual |
| 2024 | $92,237 | Actual |
| 2025 | $91,838 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $94,253 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $96,732 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Chester metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 15.8% from $79,288 (2019) to $91,838 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $96,732 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,444 (22.00%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Chester 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) | $69,406 – $77,836 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $77,836 – $94,253 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $94,253 – $117,314 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $117,314 – $143,923 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Chester
In Chester, the job market for civil engineers is relatively small but stable, with five professionals currently employed in the sector. The cost-of-living index in the area is pegged at 97.4, which is below the national average, suggesting that take-home pay can have a strong purchasing power despite lower salaries compared to larger metropolitan areas. Among local employers, top-tier engineering consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs typically offer the highest salaries, while federal agencies and local public works departments provide competitive compensation, albeit often at lower levels. Variance in civil engineer pay in Chester PA can be attributed to factors such as the attainment of a Professional Engineer (PE) license, project management versus technical roles, and the firm type. Strategies for maximizing compensation include pursuing specialized certifications or licenses and targeting firms involved in substantial infrastructure projects funded by the BIL, which are likely to command higher wages to meet increasing demands.
More salary data for Chester, PA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do civil engineers make in Chester, PA in 2026?
Is Chester, PA a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Can civil engineers make $100K in Chester?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted civil engineer salary in Chester?
How much does a civil engineer make per hour in Chester?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Pennsylvania
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 $91,838 for civil engineersin the Chester 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 Chester 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