salary$101,780 a year$49 an hour · median pay in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$77,970per year
Top pay (top 10%)$159,990per year
Jobs in the area8,470people work this job
Can a civil engineer afford Washington?
OK. Rent of $2,370 a month takes 27.9% of the median civil engineer salary. That is under the 30% rule, so one paycheck covers rent comfortably.
Civil Engineer pay in similar cities
Other jobs in Washington
Registered NurseNurse PractitionerLicensed Practical NurseNursing AssistantMedical AssistantPharmacistPhysician AssistantDental HygienistElementary School TeacherSoftware DeveloperComputer Systems AnalystAccountantMarket Research AnalystOperations Manager
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Washington, DC?
The median pay for a civil engineer in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area is $101,780 a year ($49 an hour). Most earn between $77,970 and $159,990.
Can a civil engineer afford to live in Washington?
Typical rent of $2,370 a month takes 27.9% of the median civil engineer salary, which we rate OK.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area.