Are you considering a civil engineering career in the Lone Star State, or wondering if your current compensation aligns with market standards?
We’ve analysed 713 civil engineering positions across Texas to bring you the most comprehensive insights into civil engineering salaries for 2025. This article explores the Civil Engineer Salary in Texas, revealing how much civil engineers earn and the key factors driving compensation in one of America’s fastest-growing states.
Average Civil Engineer Salary in Texas
The median civil engineering salary in Texas stands at $100,500 USD per year or $48.32 USD per hour. This figure represents a sweet spot in the Texas engineering market, reflecting the state’s booming infrastructure development and construction sector growth.
Salary Range Overview
Factors Influencing Civil Engineers Salaries
Educational Level
Average Salary by Education Level
The data reveals a compelling story: while a master’s degree provides a 12% salary premium over a bachelor’s degree, the real surprise is that associate degree holders can still command competitive salaries averaging nearly $88,000. This suggests that in Texas’s hot construction market, practical experience and certifications can sometimes outweigh advanced degrees. However, a civil engineering degree at the bachelor’s level remains the standard entry point for most positions.
Education Requirements Distribution
Here’s where it gets interesting: Texas civil engineering positions overwhelmingly require just a bachelor’s degree, with over three-quarters of positions accessible at this education level. This reflects Texas’s pragmatic approach to engineering—the state values getting projects built over academic credentials. Only a handful of positions require PhDs, typically in specialized research or academic roles.
Years of Experience
The experience data tells a fascinating story about career progression. Notice the significant 20% jump between entry-level and one year of experience. This reflects the value Texas employers place on proven field experience. The progression then steadies, with another notable increase around the 5-year mark when engineers typically earn their Professional Engineer (PE) license. Interestingly, the plateau between years 5-8 suggests this is when many engineers face a critical decision: pursue management roles or deepen technical expertise. Relevant work experience plays a crucial role in determining civil engineering compensation throughout one’s career.
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 18.41% | 102 |
| 1 year | 8.84% | 49 |
| 2 years | 16.61% | 92 |
| 3 years | 12.82% | 71 |
| 4 years | 10.29% | 57 |
| 5 years | 17.15% | 95 |
| 6 years | 2.53% | 14 |
| 7 years | 3.61% | 20 |
| 8 years | 2.17% | 12 |
Seniority Level
The progression from internship to management represents a 208% increase in compensation. But here’s what the numbers don’t tell you: the jump to management often requires not just technical skills but also business acumen, client relationship abilities, and project management expertise. Many engineers hit the “senior ceiling” because they love the technical work, and that’s perfectly fine. The data shows senior individual contributors can still earn excellent compensation without the management headaches. It’s worth noting that civil engineering technicians often play a crucial role in supporting these higher-level positions and can also enjoy competitive salaries as they gain experience.
Remote Work
The remote work landscape for civil engineers tells an interesting story:
| Work Arrangement | Average Annual Salary | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | $107,174.10 | 91 |
| Onsite | $103,533.10 | 620 |
| Remote | $101,050.00 | 2 |
Here’s the surprising insight: hybrid positions command the highest average salaries, even beating fully onsite roles. This suggests that employers offering flexibility are also willing to pay premiums for talent. However, with only 2 fully remote positions in our dataset, pure remote work remains rare in civil engineering, understandable given the field-based nature of much civil engineering work.
Location
Top Texas Cities for Civil Engineer Compensation
| City | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | $260,000 | $125.00 |
| Dickinson | $156,000 | $75.00 |
| Waxahachie | $148,680.50 | $71.48 |
| Kaufman | $137,066 | $65.90 |
| Roanoke | $135,000 | $64.90 |
| Dallas | $130,868.50 | $62.92 |
| Grand Prairie | $125,000 | $60.10 |
| Irving | $125,000 | $60.10 |
| Harlingen | $120,000 | $57.69 |
| Fairview | $117,500 | $56.49 |
Spring’s commanding lead in civil engineering salaries isn’t just about oil money; it’s about specialised petrochemical infrastructure expertise. The Houston suburb hosts major energy companies requiring civil engineers who understand both traditional infrastructure and complex industrial facilities. Meanwhile, cities like Waxahachie and Kaufman are experiencing explosive growth, driving demand for municipal and residential infrastructure experts.
What’s surprising? Major metros like Austin and San Antonio don’t top the list. This reflects a crucial insight: sometimes the best civil engineer pay comes from being a big fish in a smaller pond, especially in rapidly growing secondary markets.
Top Paying Companies in Texas
The Texas civil engineering landscape features a diverse mix of employers, from boutique firms to global corporations. Here’s what the top payers are offering:
Highest Paying Employers
| Company | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Firm | $550,000 | $264.42 |
| The Bergaila Companies | $260,000 | $125.00 |
| SWDS | $156,000 | $75.00 |
| City of Waxahachie | $148,680.50 | $71.48 |
| Belcan | $141,835.20 | $68.19 |
| Hays | $140,000 | $67.31 |
| Orion Group | $135,200 | $65.00 |
| Goodwin Recruiting | $135,000 | $64.90 |
| Metric Geo | $130,000 | $62.50 |
| Jacobs | $128,133.30 | $61.60 |
The standout $550,000 salary from “Engineering Firm” likely represents specialized consulting roles or profit-sharing partnerships. But don’t overlook the consistent performers like Jacobs and Belcan—these established firms offer something equally valuable: stability, diverse project exposure, and clear career progression paths.
Municipal employers like the City of Waxahachie competing with private sector salaries signals an important trend: Texas cities are investing heavily in infrastructure talent to manage their explosive growth. These positions often come with excellent benefits and work-life balance that can make the total compensation package even more attractive.
How to Maximize Your Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis and current market conditions, here are proven strategies to optimize your civil engineering salary in Texas:
While 77% of positions require only a bachelor’s degree, the data reveals compelling opportunities:
- Master’s degree holders earn 12% more on average, but consider the ROI carefully, given Texas’s pragmatic market
- A Professional Engineer (PE) license is your golden ticket. Notice the salary jump at the 5-year experience mark
- Specialised certifications in high-demand areas like water resources or transportation can command premium pay
Time Your Career Moves Wisely, Our data reveals critical inflexion points:
- Years 1-3: Focus on diverse project exposure. The 20% salary jump after year one rewards proven field experience
- Year 5: Obtain your PE license to unlock the next salary tier
- Years 7-10: Pursue management (61% salary premium) or become a specialised senior contributor
- Consider hybrid arrangements: Our data shows hybrid positions average $107,174, higher than both onsite and remote
Explore our detailed article on the Civil Engineering Skills Required in 2025
Future Trends in Civil Engineering Salaries
The Texas civil engineering landscape is experiencing seismic shifts that will reshape compensation patterns:
Infrastructure Investment Boom
TxDOT’s record $148 billion transportation investment includes $17.3 billion for safety improvements and $1.7 billion for rural corridors. This unprecedented spending will create sustained demand for civil engineers across all experience levels.
Water Crisis Creating Opportunities
With drinking water infrastructure dropping to a D+ grade and wastewater earning a D-, the state faces a crisis that translates to career opportunities. Water resource engineers and infrastructure rehabilitation specialists will likely see significant salary premiums.
Climate Resilience Focus
Following the 2021 winter storms that caused 40% of water utilities to issue boil water notices, resilience engineering has become a priority. Engineers with expertise in climate adaptation and resilient design will see increased demand and compensation.
The data presented in this article was compiled through an analysis of 713 publicly available civil engineering salaries across Texas. Salaries, required education levels, experience expectations, seniority titles, and locations were extracted and analyzed to identify trends and calculate average and median figures. The data analysis was completed in 2025, providing the most current information on civil engineer pay in Texas. For additional resources, you may want to consult the ASCE salary calculator or the latest ASCE salary report for comprehensive industry benchmarks.
Conclusion
The civil engineering profession in Texas offers robust earning potential with a median civil engineering salary of $100,500 annually. While this represents solid middle-class earnings, the real opportunity lies in understanding the market dynamics: secondary cities often outpay major metros, the 5-year PE licensing milestone unlocks significant salary gains, and specialization in water infrastructure or energy projects can command premium compensation.
For civil engineers navigating the Texas market, success isn’t just about technical skills—it’s about strategic career planning. Whether you’re drawn to the $260,000 salaries in Spring’s petrochemical sector or the stability of municipal positions with excellent benefits, Texas offers diverse paths to professional and financial success.
The state’s massive infrastructure investments, from $1 billion annually for water projects to record transportation spending, ensure that civil engineer wages will remain competitive as demand continues to outpace supply. By positioning yourself strategically—whether through education, location, or specialization—you can maximize your earning potential in one of America’s most dynamic engineering markets.
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