Civil Engineering Salaries Inch Higher

JulyAugust 2008
Industry News

Survey: Civil Engineering Salaries Inch Higher in 2008

According to ASCE, additional education and professional licensure also drive salaries higher.

According to a new survey conducted by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the median income for civil engineers is $78,000 a year, which represents an increase from $77,000 in 2007. The median income for all fields of engineering combined is $85,000, a 7.6 percent increase from 2007.

“In light of these new survey results, it is obvious that the job market for civil engineers remains strong,” said David G. Mongan, P.E., F.ASCE, president of the ASCE. “However, in order maintain a pipeline of qualified civil engineers who can meet our nation’s ever increasing demand for infrastructure service, salaries are going to have to become more competitive with other engineering and science-related fields.”

According to the survey, respondents who are licensed professional engineers earned higher than average salaries, with a median of $92,100, and those with a professional engineers license and a second professional registration earned the highest salaries, with a median income of $106,675. Those engineers without professional licensing or certification earn significantly less, with a median annual income of $86,000.

An engineer’s job function or the industry in which they work also has a significant impact on their compensation, the ASCE reports. Those working in executive, administrative and legal positions earn the highest median income, $129,000, while those working in drafting or estimation earn the lowest median income, $60,160. In the middle of the range are those in the areas of training/technical writing, production/quality management/maintenance and project management/engineering/operations, with median incomes from $84,750 to $93,500.

Regionally, engineers in California, Hawaii and Nevada are among the highest compensated, earning a median income of $94,900, while engineers in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho are among the lowest compensated, earning a median income of $73,000. The lowest median income by metropolitan area was found in Missoula, Mont., $56,000, and the highest was found in Syracuse, N.Y., $121,950.

For more information on the 2008 Salary Survey, or to purchase a copy, visit: www.asce.org/salaries. MD