SOC 17-2051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Civil Engineers — Salem
Salem, OR · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Civil Engineers in Salem, OR is $115,480 per year, 14.5% above the national median of $100,840.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Civil Engineers in Salem, OR is $115,480 per year, 14.5% above the national median of $100,840. Pay ranges from under $78,220 at the tenth percentile to more than $147,600 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $95,030 to $140,950.
The area has 480 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 2.5 of every thousand jobs. Portland leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $106,280. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 47th of 434 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $78,220 | −22.4% |
| 25th | $95,030 | −5.8% |
| Median (50th) | $115,480 | +14.5% |
| 75th | $140,950 | +39.8% |
| 90th | $147,600 | +46.4% |
| Mean | $116,280 | +15.3% |
Other metro areas in Oregon
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Salem run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $115,480 buys what $111,683 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 10.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$115,480as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$111,683US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $115,480 a year, 14.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $78,220 to $147,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 480 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Portland, at $106,280.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Civil Engineers in Salem, OR?
The median annual wage is $115,480, or $55.52 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $100,840, so pay in Salem, OR is 14.5% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Salem, OR earns more than $147,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $78,220 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Portland, at $106,280 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 480 jobs in this occupation in Salem, OR. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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