Civil Engineer salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Civil Engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $101,780 a year ($48.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $159,990 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $100,840. Pay here is 2% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $103,880. There are 2.7 civil engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $110,950, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for civil engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,970 | $37.49 |
| 25th percentile | $84,590 | $40.67 |
| Median | $101,780 | $48.93 |
| 75th percentile | $129,830 | $62.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $159,990 | $76.92 |
| Average (mean) | $110,950 | $53.34 |
Half of civil engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,481.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,240.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,914.62 |
| Weekly | $1,957.31 |
| Hourly | $48.93 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $101,780 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Civil Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $101,800 | 60 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $100,920 | 150 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $100,500 | 2,540 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $99,410 | 6,160 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $98,390 | 130 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $97,530 | 90 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $96,100 | 170 |
| Charleston, WV | $94,810 | 280 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $94,680 | 1,990 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $94,520 | 290 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $94,200 | n/a |
| Richmond, VA | $91,300 | 1,680 |
| Roanoke, VA | $90,720 | 250 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $90,120 | 40 |
| Morgantown, WV | $89,560 | 80 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $89,250 | n/a |
| Salisbury, MD | $87,710 | 40 |
| Beckley, WV | $87,520 | 60 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $87,510 | 200 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $84,440 | 100 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $78,770 | 70 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $70,250 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for civil engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $122,500 |
| Alaska | $114,730 |
| Washington | $110,000 |
| Massachusetts | $106,730 |
| Louisiana | $105,380 |
| Oregon | $105,250 |
| New Jersey | $104,660 |
| Nevada | $104,310 |
| New Mexico | $103,900 |
| District of Columbia | $103,880 |
See Civil Engineer pay in every state or the District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $151,340 | $72.76 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $126,990 | $61.05 |
| Electrical Engineer | $126,420 | $60.78 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $140,000 | $67.31 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $166,420 | $80.01 |
| Industrial Engineer | $117,600 | $56.54 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $159,480 | $76.67 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $180,360 | $86.71 |
| Environmental Engineer | $120,580 | $57.97 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $159,700 | $76.78 |
| Materials Engineer | $140,640 | $67.62 |
| Chemical Engineer | $132,820 | $63.86 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $110,390 | $53.07 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $125,760 | $60.46 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for civil engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $101,780 a year, or $48.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $159,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid civil engineers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of civil engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $159,990 a year. The top 25% earn $129,830 or more.
What is the starting pay for civil engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,970 a year, and a quarter of civil engineers earn $84,590 or less.
How many civil engineers work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 8,470 civil engineers are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.