Civil Engineer Salary in Puerto Rico: $61,825 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Puerto Rico's 5 metropolitan areas, the average median civil engineer pay sits at $61,825/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 17-2051. Because Puerto Rico sits at BEA RPP 75.0 (25% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $82,433 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: San Juan ($61,580), Arecibo ($60,950), Aguadilla ($58,260).
In 2026, civil engineer salaries in Puerto Rico reflect a significant disparity compared to the national average. The projected average median salary for civil engineers in Puerto Rico is $61,824, which is 40.3% lower than the national median of $103,492. Within Puerto Rico, the highest paying city is San Juan, where salaries reach $63,200, while Mayaguez offers the lowest at $48,308, creating a salary gap of $14,892. This difference can be attributed to factors such as local cost of living, demand levels, and the scale of projects available in various regions. Civil engineering in Puerto Rico requires adherence to specific state licensing requirements, and civil engineers must be familiar with local scope of practice laws that may differ from the mainland. Demand for civil engineers is supported by ongoing infrastructure development and renovation projects driven by economic recovery efforts. The job market is poised for steady growth, with a projected annual compound growth rate of 2.63% for employment in this field. The total number of employed civil engineers in Puerto Rico stands at 1,720, indicating a stable demand for professionals in various metro areas, including Arecibo at $62,553, Aguadilla at $59,792, and Ponce at $52,824.
Puerto Rico Civil Engineer Salary Range
Overall salary range in Puerto Rico: $34,751 (lowest entry-level) to $103,010 (highest top earner)
Puerto Rico vs National Average
Puerto Rico civil engineers earn 40.26% less than the national median ($-41,667/year difference).
Puerto Rico Civil Engineer Salary Distribution (2026)
Civil Engineer salaries in Puerto Rico range from $45,682 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $100,344 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $61,825. The Puerto Rico median is $41,667 below the US national median of $103,492. The average hourly rate is $29.73/hr. Approximately 1,720 civil engineers are employed across 5 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$50,795
2025 BLS Actual
$60,240
2026 Current Est.
$61,825
2019–2027 Growth
+24.9%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Puerto Rico (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $50,795 | Actual |
| 2020 | $55,475 | Actual |
| 2021 | $58,677 | Actual |
| 2022 | $60,011 | Actual |
| 2023 | $59,883 | Actual |
| 2024 | $60,626 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,240 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,825 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $63,451 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Puerto Rico metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 18.6% from $50,795 (2019) to $60,240 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $63,451 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,656 (24.92%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Puerto Rico 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.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Puerto Rico
Salary by Experience Level in Puerto Rico
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $45,682 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $61,825 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $100,344 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Puerto Rico metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 5 Cities in Puerto Rico
More Puerto Rico Salary Data
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced civil engineers.
Explore More Civil Engineer Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do civil engineers make in Puerto Rico in 2026?
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How does Puerto Rico civil engineer pay compare to the national average?
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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
Statewide 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. A 2.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 civil engineer compensation across Puerto Rico. State averages are employment-weighted across 5 metro areas — larger metro areas with more civil engineerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
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