Civil Engineer Salary in Pittsburgh, PA: $103,328 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Pittsburgh, PA earns a median $103,328/year (≈ $49.67/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Pittsburgh's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 94.7), that paycheck buys what $109,144 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.9% above the Pennsylvania state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, civil engineers in Pittsburgh, PA can expect a median annual salary of $103,328, closely aligned with the national median of $103,492. The salary range for these professionals varies significantly, with the lower 10% earning around $70,784, while those in the upper echelon can make as much as $145,026. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, project a growing demand for civil engineers, particularly as infrastructure needs continue to rise. Candidates who progress from engineer-in-training (EIT) to becoming licensed professional engineers (PE) can unlock higher earning potential and open doors to senior roles, shaping the competitive landscape of civil engineer pay in Pittsburgh.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $70,784 | $34.03 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $79,682 | $38.31 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $103,328 | $49.67 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $128,134 | $61.61 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $145,026 | $69.73 |
Median Salary Position
0.16% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Pittsburgh
In Pittsburgh, PA, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $74,242 (2026 est.). At $103,328, the local median is 0.16% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Pittsburgh: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Pittsburgh Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Pittsburgh median: $103,328/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Pittsburgh Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Average | $97,571 | +5.90% more |
| National Average | $103,492 | -0.16% less |
Civil Engineers in Pittsburgh, PA earn a median of $103,328 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.16% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 5.90% above the Pennsylvania state average of $97,571.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Pittsburgh has a cost of living 5.33% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Pittsburgh, PA has a cost-of-living index of 94.671 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $103,328 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $109,144 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.63% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$82,250
2025 BLS Actual
$100,680
2026 Current Est.
$103,328
2019–2027 Growth
+28.9%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Pittsburgh (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $82,250 | Actual |
| 2020 | $94,550 | Actual |
| 2021 | $97,090 | Actual |
| 2022 | $85,470 | Actual |
| 2023 | $97,560 | Actual |
| 2024 | $95,770 | Actual |
| 2025 | $100,680 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $103,328 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $106,045 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 22.4% from $82,250 (2019) to $100,680 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $106,045 by 2027 — a total increase of $23,795 (28.93%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Pittsburgh 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) | $70,784 – $79,682 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $79,682 – $103,328 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $103,328 – $128,134 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $128,134 – $145,026 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Pittsburgh
With 4,210 civil engineers employed in the region, the local job market demonstrates robust opportunities, especially when considering Pittsburgh's cost of living index of 94.671, which is below the national average. This means that take-home purchasing power can be relatively high, making civil engineer salaries in Pittsburgh appealing for professionals. Major employers, including top-tier consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, tend to offer the highest salaries, while federal agencies and state departments also present viable opportunities. The variation in compensation is driven by factors such as PE licensure, specialization areas like structural or geotechnical engineering, and the tier of the hiring firm. Aspiring engineers should focus on obtaining their PE license and consider sectors experiencing growth due to infrastructure legislation, as these tracks can significantly enhance their earning potential in the Pittsburgh job market.
More salary data for Pittsburgh, PA:
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 $100,680 for civil engineersin the Pittsburgh 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