Civil Engineer Salary in Sumter, SC: $96,585 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Sumter, SC earns a median $96,585/year (≈ $46.44/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Sumter's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 88.0), that paycheck buys what $109,731 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.2% below the South Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, civil engineers in Sumter, South Carolina, can anticipate a median annual salary of $96,585. This figure positions local compensation slightly below the national median of $103,492 for the same year, reflecting an 6.67% gap. The salary range for civil engineers in the Sumter area varies significantly, with starting salaries around $72,231 (P10) and experienced engineers earning up to $131,767 (P90). Such numbers, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, are shaped by factors like the pathway from FE to PE licensure, which not only enhances career prospects but often correlates with higher pay. With 40 civil engineers currently employed in the region, the market for local professionals remains stable and offers opportunities for growth and advancement.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $72,231 | $34.73 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $76,778 | $36.92 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $96,585 | $46.44 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $120,683 | $58.03 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $131,767 | $63.35 |
Median Salary Position
6.67% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Sumter
In Sumter, SC, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $59,536 (2026 est.). At $96,585, the local median is 6.67% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Sumter: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Sumter Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Sumter median: $96,585/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Sumter Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Average | $96,779 | -0.20% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -6.67% less |
Civil Engineers in Sumter, SC earn a median of $96,585 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.67% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 0.20% below the South Carolina state average of $96,779.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Sumter has a cost of living 11.98% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Sumter, SC has a cost-of-living index of 88.02 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $96,585 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $109,731 in an average-cost city — an effective 13.61% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$72,910
2025 BLS Actual
$94,110
2026 Current Est.
$96,585
2019–2027 Growth
+36.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Sumter (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $72,910 | Actual |
| 2020 | $82,659 | Actual |
| 2021 | $61,890 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,830 | Actual |
| 2023 | $75,210 | Actual |
| 2024 | $83,010 | Actual |
| 2025 | $94,110 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $96,585 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $99,125 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Sumter metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 29.1% from $72,910 (2019) to $94,110 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $99,125 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,215 (35.96%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Sumter 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) | $72,231 – $76,778 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $76,778 – $96,585 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $96,585 – $120,683 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $120,683 – $131,767 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Sumter
In the Sumter job market, the cost of living is lower than the national average, with a CoL index of 88.02, which positively impacts the purchasing power of civil engineer pay in Sumter, SC. The presence of various employers, including top engineering consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, as well as federal agencies such as the US Army Corps of Engineers, creates competitive dynamics for salary offerings. Factors influencing pay within the region include the requirement of a PE license for elevated pay grades, specific technical specialties yielding premium compensation, and the performance of firms in relation to project funding, driven partly by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. To maximize earnings, civil engineers should consider targeting roles in well-established firms or federal employment, while also pursuing licensure and gaining experience in high-demand specialties that can enhance their market value within Sumter's evolving landscape.
More salary data for Sumter, 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 $94,110 for civil engineersin the Sumter 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, 6-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