SOC 17-2051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Civil Engineers — Washington
Washington · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Washington comes to $110,000 a year, ahead of the national median of $100,840 by 9.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Washington comes to $110,000 a year, ahead of the national median of $100,840 by 9.1%. Pay ranges from under $81,840 at the tenth percentile to more than $160,670 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $96,230 to $133,050.
Employment stands at 12,590, or 3.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Washington ranks number 3rd out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Walla Walla records the highest median at $123,030. Of the 757 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 128th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $81,840 | −18.8% |
| 25th | $96,230 | −4.6% |
| Median (50th) | $110,000 | +9.1% |
| 75th | $133,050 | +31.9% |
| 90th | $160,670 | +59.3% |
| Mean | $117,670 | +16.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walla Walla | $123,030 | 190 | |
| 2 | Kennewick | $121,370 | 630 | |
| 3 | Seattle | $116,480 | 7,680 | |
| 4 | Bremerton | $116,210 | 300 | |
| 5 | Olympia | $108,240 | 860 | |
| 6 | Bellingham | $107,790 | 220 | |
| 7 | Longview | $102,750 | 60 | |
| 8 | Mount Vernon | $101,300 | 150 | |
| 9 | Spokane | $100,510 | 600 | |
| 10 | Wenatchee | $100,510 | 180 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $110,000 buys what $102,804 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 1.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$110,000as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$102,804US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $110,000 a year, 9.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $81,840 to $160,670 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 12,590 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 3rd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Walla Walla, at $123,030.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Civil Engineers in Washington?
The median annual wage is $110,000, or $52.89 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 Washington is 9.1% 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 Washington earns more than $160,670 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $81,840 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 Walla Walla, at $123,030 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 12,590 jobs in this occupation in Washington. 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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