Civil Engineer Salary in Spartanburg, SC: $81,488 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Spartanburg, SC earns a median $81,488/year (≈ $39.17/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Spartanburg's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 91.1), that paycheck buys what $89,497 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 15.8% below the South Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, civil engineers in Spartanburg, South Carolina, can expect a median annual salary of $81,488, significantly lower than the national average of $103,492. The salary range in this area varies quite a bit, spanning from $66,545 at the 10th percentile to as high as $161,057 for those at the 90th percentile. This data, based on 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, illustrates the distinct differences in pay that exist depending on the sector of employment, whether it be consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, government agencies such as the South Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT), or construction companies. This variation can heavily influence the job prospects and salary potential for civil engineers working within Spartanburg's diverse employment market, reflecting both the level of experience and specialization required.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $66,545 | $31.99 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $70,928 | $34.10 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $81,488 | $39.17 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $102,322 | $49.19 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $161,057 | $77.43 |
Median Salary Position
21.26% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Spartanburg
In Spartanburg, SC, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $94,512 (2026 est.). At $81,488, the local median is 21.26% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Spartanburg: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Spartanburg Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Spartanburg median: $81,488/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Spartanburg Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Average | $96,779 | -15.80% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -21.26% less |
Civil Engineers in Spartanburg, SC earn a median of $81,488 per year (2026 est.), which is 21.26% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 15.80% below the South Carolina state average of $96,779.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Spartanburg has a cost of living 8.95% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Spartanburg, SC has a cost-of-living index of 91.051 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $81,488 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $89,497 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.83% 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
$75,450
2025 BLS Actual
$79,400
2026 Current Est.
$81,488
2019–2027 Growth
+10.8%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Spartanburg (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $75,450 | Actual |
| 2020 | $81,860 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,600 | Actual |
| 2022 | $78,190 | Actual |
| 2023 | $80,020 | Actual |
| 2024 | $83,250 | Actual |
| 2025 | $79,400 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $81,488 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $83,631 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Spartanburg metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 5.2% from $75,450 (2019) to $79,400 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $83,631 by 2027 — a total increase of $8,181 (10.84%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Spartanburg 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) | $66,545 – $70,928 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $70,928 – $81,488 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $81,488 – $102,322 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $102,322 – $161,057 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Spartanburg
With about 170 civil engineers currently employed in Spartanburg, job opportunities appear solid in this market. The cost of living index at 91.051 suggests that residents enjoy a lower cost of living compared to the national average, allowing for a more favorable purchasing power despite the salary benchmarks. Among local employers, top consulting firms generally offer the highest salaries, with companies like AECOM and Jacobs known for their competitive pay structures. The broad spread between lower and higher earnings can be attributed to factors such as having a Professional Engineer (PE) license, specialization in certain engineering fields, and firm tier distinctions. Engineers looking to enhance their pay should consider obtaining advanced certifications and pursuing roles in high-demand sectors, particularly those involved in infrastructure projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Tailoring one's skill set to meet the needs of local markets, particularly in structural or transportation engineering, will also play a vital role in maximizing pay in Spartanburg SC.
More salary data for Spartanburg, SC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do civil engineers make in Spartanburg, SC in 2026?
Is Spartanburg, SC a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Can civil engineers make $100K in Spartanburg?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted civil engineer salary in Spartanburg?
How much does a civil engineer make per hour in Spartanburg?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in South Carolina
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 $79,400 for civil engineersin the Spartanburg 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