Civil Engineer Salary in Myrtle Beach, SC: $92,521 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Myrtle Beach, SC earns a median $92,521/year (≈ $44.48/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Myrtle Beach's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $98,803 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.4% below the South Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, civil engineers in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $92,521, which is approximately 10.60% lower than the national median of $103,492. Salary figures span a wide range from $64,883 at the 10th percentile to $161,940 at the 90th percentile, reflecting divergent pay structures between various sectors of the industry. The compensation landscape reveals higher salaries often associated with consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs compared to roles in state or local government, such as the Department of Transportation (DOT) or public works. As demand for infrastructure projects grows, driven in part by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the job market for civil engineers in Myrtle Beach remains competitive, particularly for those with additional credentials like a PE license or specialized skills in areas such as structural engineering.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $64,883 | $31.19 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $77,506 | $37.26 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $92,521 | $44.48 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $132,824 | $63.86 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $161,940 | $77.86 |
Median Salary Position
10.6% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Myrtle Beach
In Myrtle Beach, SC, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $97,057 (2026 est.). At $92,521, the local median is 10.6% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Myrtle Beach: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Myrtle Beach Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Myrtle Beach median: $92,521/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Myrtle Beach Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Average | $96,779 | -4.40% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -10.60% less |
Civil Engineers in Myrtle Beach, SC earn a median of $92,521 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.60% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 4.40% below the South Carolina state average of $96,779.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Myrtle Beach has a cost of living 6.36% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Myrtle Beach, SC has a cost-of-living index of 93.642 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $92,521 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $98,803 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.79% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$72,240
2025 BLS Actual
$90,150
2026 Current Est.
$92,521
2019–2027 Growth
+31.4%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Myrtle Beach (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $72,240 | Actual |
| 2020 | $70,510 | Actual |
| 2021 | $73,660 | Actual |
| 2022 | $59,630 | Actual |
| 2023 | $69,150 | Actual |
| 2024 | $77,000 | Actual |
| 2025 | $90,150 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $92,521 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $94,954 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 24.8% from $72,240 (2019) to $90,150 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $94,954 by 2027 — a total increase of $22,714 (31.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Myrtle Beach 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) | $64,883 – $77,506 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $77,506 – $92,521 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $92,521 – $132,824 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $132,824 – $161,940 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Myrtle Beach
With 120 civil engineers employed locally, the job market in Myrtle Beach demonstrates a steady demand for qualified professionals, despite the relatively modest median wage. The cost of living index in Myrtle Beach stands at 93.642, suggesting that take-home purchasing power might be advantageous for those earning competitive salaries in the area. Among local employers, top salaries typically come from major engineering consulting firms and large construction companies, while government positions tend to offer less compensation. Factors influencing the variation in civil engineer pay include specialized skills, the attainment of professional licensure, and tier levels of firms, which often dictate salary scales. Pursuing advanced credentials, such as the PE license, and considering roles in high-demand sectors can maximize earning potential in this market, aligning career choices with the area's growth in civil engineering opportunities.
More salary data for Myrtle Beach, SC:
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 $90,150 for civil engineersin the Myrtle Beach 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