Are you considering a civil engineering career in Tennessee, or looking to benchmark your current engineering salary?
This article details the Civil Engineer Salary in Tennessee for 2025, exploring how much civil engineers make and the key factors that influence compensation as revealed by the data. We’ll focus on education, career progression, geographical opportunities, and advancement into leadership roles, providing valuable information for both entry-level positions and experienced workers in the field.
Average Civil Engineer Salary in Tennessee
The median Tennessee civil engineering salary is $110,000 per year or $52.88 per hour. This figure provides insight into how much civil engineers make in Tennessee and serves as a benchmark for civil engineering compensation in the state.
Salary Range Overview
Factors Influencing Civil Engineering Salaries
Educational Level
The education landscape for civil engineers in Tennessee shows a clear path to higher compensation, but it’s not as straightforward as you might think.
The data reveals that while a bachelor’s degree remains the standard entry point for most positions, pursuing a master’s degree can boost your earning potential by approximately $17,667 annually – a 16% increase. But here’s what the numbers don’t tell you: Engineers with a Master’s degree or PE (Professional Engineer) license typically earn higher wages.
What’s particularly noteworthy is that over 70% of civil engineering positions in Tennessee require only a civil engineering degree at the bachelor’s level, making the field accessible while still offering strong advancement opportunities. This suggests that experience and professional development can be just as valuable as advanced degrees in building your civil engineering salary potential.
Years of Experience
The experience landscape in Tennessee’s civil engineering market shows interesting patterns that can guide your career timing decisions.
Here’s what jumps out: there’s a significant salary acceleration between years 1-5, with the most substantial jump occurring around the 4-5 year mark. The beginning salary for civil engineers in Nashville is about $66,000, while professionals with over 10 years of relevant work experience can earn more than $105,000 annually.
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 9.49% | 43 |
| 1 year | 5.30% | 24 |
| 2 years | 15.45% | 70 |
| 3 years | 11.26% | 51 |
| 4 years | 11.26% | 51 |
| 5 years | 24.72% | 112 |
| 6 years | 4.86% | 22 |
| 8+ years | 9.71% | 44 |
But what if you’re already at the median and wondering about your next move? The data suggests that the 5-year experience mark represents a critical inflection point – this is when many engineers transition from project contributors to project leaders, and the compensation reflects this shift in responsibility.
Seniority Level
The progression from entry-level to principal represents an 86% increase in compensation, highlighting the substantial value of experience and leadership capabilities in the civil engineering field. Interestingly, we see that Lead and Principal positions command the highest salaries, even outpacing traditional Manager roles.
This data tells us something important about career paths in Tennessee: technical leadership often pays better than pure management. Lead engineers who maintain hands-on technical involvement while guiding teams can command premium compensation.
Location
Here’s where geography really matters for your civil engineering pay:
| City | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin | $126,900 | $61.01 |
| Nashville | $123,454 | $59.35 |
| Kingsport | $122,094 | $58.70 |
| Memphis | $120,056 | $57.72 |
| Dandridge | $120,000 | $57.69 |
| Chattanooga | $118,579 | $57.01 |
| Knoxville | $111,150 | $53.44 |
| Murfreesboro | $101,654 | $48.87 |
Franklin leads the pack, offering significantly higher civil engineering salaries than other Tennessee cities. This likely reflects the city’s proximity to Nashville’s booming construction market combined with a higher cost of living. The civil engineer salary in Nashville, TN, leads among Tennessee cities, driven by infrastructure demand, population growth, and private investment in construction projects.
What’s fascinating is the geographic salary clustering – the top-paying cities are concentrated in Middle Tennessee, reflecting the region’s rapid growth and infrastructure investment. As Nashville grows into a hotspot for real estate, transportation, and green infrastructure, the demand for civil engineers has risen. The massive investments made by both the state and federal governments have allowed Tennessee’s infrastructure to improve, helping civil engineering careers grow.
Top Paying Companies in Tennessee
Tennessee’s civil engineering market features diverse employers, from international consulting giants to specialized local firms. Here are the companies consistently offering above-average civil engineering salaries:
Highest Paying Employers
| Company | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Metric Geo | $150,000 | $72.12 |
| TRC Companies | $146,373 | $70.37 |
| HDR | $143,457 | $68.97 |
| AECOM | $142,625 | $68.57 |
| ERM | $130,039 | $62.52 |
| BAE Systems | $127,883 | $61.48 |
| LVI Associates | $126,667 | $60.90 |
| Carollo Engineers | $125,000 | $60.10 |
| Michael Baker International | $122,500 | $58.89 |
| Jobot | $119,605 | $57.50 |
These organizations span diverse industry sectors including environmental consulting, defense contracting, infrastructure design, and specialized technical services. The salary premiums at top-tier firms often reflect several factors:
Global Reach & Complex Projects: Firms like AECOM and HDR work on large-scale infrastructure projects that require specialized expertise, justifying higher compensation packages.
Specialized Markets: Companies like Carollo Engineers focus on water/wastewater infrastructure, where technical specialization commands premium rates.
Competition for Talent: With Tennessee experiencing rapid growth, these companies compete aggressively for experienced civil engineers, driving up compensation.
Remote Work Capabilities: Some firms offer hybrid arrangements that allow Tennessee-based engineers to work on higher-paying projects in other markets.
How to Maximize Your Civil Engineering Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis, here are the strategic moves that can optimize your civil engineering salary in Tennessee:
Focus on the 4-5 Year Experience Mark – Our data shows the most significant salary acceleration occurs at this career stage, when you transition from individual contributor to technical leader.
Consider Geographic Opportunities – Franklin and Nashville offer 25-30% salary premiums over smaller Tennessee cities, though factor in cost of living adjustments.
Pursue Professional Certification – The P.Eng. designation remains the gold standard, but specialized certifications in growing areas like stormwater management or green infrastructure can boost earning potential.
Develop Leadership Skills – Technical leadership roles (Lead, Principal) often outpay traditional management positions in Tennessee’s market.
Technical Competencies:
- AutoCAD Civil 3D (essential for most positions)
- Stormwater modeling software (HydroCAD, StormCAD)
- Traffic analysis tools (Synchro, VISSIM)
- GIS applications (ArcGIS, QGIS)
Explore our article detailing the most required Civil Engineering Skills in 2025
Conclusion
The civil engineering profession offers strong earning potential across Tennessee, with the median civil engineering salary reaching $110,000 annually. While education provides a foundation, experience and specialization significantly influence civil engineering pay levels. Location choices and industry selection have equally important impacts on total compensation.
For civil engineers looking to maximize their earning potential, a strategic approach combining technical skill development, professional certification, and leadership capabilities is essential. Understanding salary trends and market dynamics will help you negotiate competitive compensation packages and advance your career effectively.
The Tennessee market rewards both technical expertise and leadership development, with the highest-paying roles going to professionals who can bridge the gap between hands-on engineering and strategic project management. Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to make your next strategic move, the data shows clear pathways to increasing your civil engineering salary in Tennessee’s growing market.
Frequently Asked Questions
