Civil Engineer Salary in Houston, TX: $103,605 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Houston, TX earns a median $103,605/year (≈ $49.81/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Houston's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.6), that paycheck buys what $105,045 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 23.4% above the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
A 2026 median annual civil engineer salary in Houston, Texas, is projected to be $103,605, surpassing the national median of $103,492 by a slender margin. Salaries in this role range from $69,019 at the 10th percentile to $172,665 at the 90th percentile, offering a notable contrast between entry-level positions and those requiring extensive experience or specialized skills. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, reflects the ongoing demand for civil engineers across various sectors within the Houston market, including consulting firms, government positions, and construction companies. Notably, the divide in compensation can often be traced back to the type of employer, with top-tier consulting firms typically offering higher salaries compared to government roles or smaller local companies.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $69,019 | $33.18 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $82,114 | $39.48 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $103,605 | $49.81 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $134,435 | $64.63 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $172,665 | $83.02 |
Median Salary Position
0.11% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Houston
In Houston, TX, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $103,646 (2026 est.). At $103,605, the local median is 0.11% above the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Houston: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Houston Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Houston median: $103,605/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Houston Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $83,959 | +23.40% more |
| National Average | $103,492 | +0.11% more |
Civil Engineers in Houston, TX earn a median of $103,605 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.11% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 23.40% above the Texas state average of $83,959.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Houston has a cost of living 1.37% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Houston, TX has a cost-of-living index of 98.629 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $103,605 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $105,045 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.39% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$97,100
2025 BLS Actual
$100,950
2026 Current Est.
$103,605
2019–2027 Growth
+9.5%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Houston (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $97,100 | Actual |
| 2020 | $90,890 | Actual |
| 2021 | $98,030 | Actual |
| 2022 | $92,090 | Actual |
| 2023 | $87,330 | Actual |
| 2024 | $98,690 | Actual |
| 2025 | $100,950 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $103,605 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $106,330 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Houston metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 4.0% from $97,100 (2019) to $100,950 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $106,330 by 2027 — a total increase of $9,230 (9.51%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Houston 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) | $69,019 – $82,114 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $82,114 – $103,605 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $103,605 – $134,435 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $134,435 – $172,665 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Houston
With over 12,140 civil engineers currently employed in Houston, the job market is robust, supported by the city's lower cost-of-living index of 98.629, which enhances purchasing power. The highest-paying employers often include prominent engineering consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, along with major construction companies such as Bechtel and Fluor. Pay disparities hinge on various factors, including possession of a Professional Engineer (PE) license, specialization in high-demand areas like structural or geotechnical engineering, and belonging to tier-one consulting firms rather than mid-tier or government positions. The anticipated infrastructure spending led by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also stimulates demand and can influence salaries positively. For civil engineers looking to maximize pay in Houston, obtaining a PE license, specializing in in-demand areas, and strategically targeting larger firms can prove beneficial.
More salary data for Houston, 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 $100,950 for civil engineersin the Houston 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