Civil Engineer Salary in Galveston, TX: $84,253 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Galveston, TX earns a median $84,253/year (≈ $40.51/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Galveston's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.0), that paycheck buys what $87,764 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.3% above the Texas state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Galveston, Texas, civil engineers earn a median annual salary of $84,253, reflecting the local demand for professionals across various sectors, including consulting, government, and construction. With salaries ranging from $55,651 at the 10th percentile to $130,593 at the 90th percentile, there's a clear disparity not only in pay but also in the nature of work available. According to estimates derived from BLS state-level data and adjusted for regional price parities, the interplay between high-end consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, public sector roles at the Department of Transportation, and construction companies influences compensation structures in the area. This diverse employment landscape provides opportunities for civil engineers to find roles that suit their skills and career aspirations.
About the Galveston Market
Salary estimated from Texas average ($105,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $55,651 | $26.76 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $65,194 | $31.34 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $84,253 | $40.51 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $107,844 | $51.85 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $130,593 | $62.79 |
Median Salary Position
18.59% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Galveston
In Galveston, TX, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $74,942 (2026 est.). At $84,253, the local median is 18.59% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Galveston: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Galveston Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Galveston median: $84,253/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Galveston Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $84,001 | +0.30% more |
| National Average | $103,492 | -18.59% less |
Civil Engineers in Galveston, TX earn a median of $84,253 per year (2026 est.), which is 18.59% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 0.30% above the Texas state average of $84,001.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Galveston has a cost of living 4.00% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Galveston, TX has a cost-of-living index of 96 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $84,253 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $87,764 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.17% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$70,876
2025 BLS Actual
$82,094
2026 Current Est.
$84,253
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Galveston (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $70,876 | Actual |
| 2020 | $72,105 | Actual |
| 2021 | $71,682 | Actual |
| 2022 | $73,220 | Actual |
| 2023 | $78,064 | Actual |
| 2024 | $101,113 | Actual |
| 2025 | $82,094 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $84,253 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $86,469 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Galveston metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 15.8% from $70,876 (2019) to $82,094 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $86,469 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,593 (22.00%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Galveston 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) | $55,651 – $65,194 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $65,194 – $84,253 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $84,253 – $107,844 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $107,844 – $130,593 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Galveston
In the local job market, there are currently 10 civil engineers employed in Galveston, indicating a niche but stable presence for the profession. With a cost-of-living index set at 96, salaries here offer competitive purchasing power, particularly when weighed against living expenses. Among the various employers, engineering consulting firms tend to offer the highest pay, yet the compensation also varies significantly by project complexity and specialty, such as structural or geotechnical engineering. Factors like possessing a Professional Engineer (PE) license, which opens doors to senior roles, or the choice between private sector positions versus government employment, can greatly influence earning potential. As the market adapts to the influx from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, civil engineers aiming for higher compensation should consider specializing in critical infrastructure projects or pursuing managerial roles for better pay in Galveston, TX.
More salary data for Galveston, TX:
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 $82,094 for civil engineersin the Galveston 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
Salary data for Galveston is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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