Are you considering a civil engineering career in Arizona, or looking to benchmark your current civil engineering compensation?
We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of 570 civil engineering positions across Arizona to provide insights into the civil engineering salary landscape. This article details Civil Engineer Salary in Arizona and civil engineer wage trends for 2025, exploring how much civil engineers make and the key factors that influence compensation as revealed by the data.
Average Civil Engineers Salary in Arizona
The median civil engineering salary in Arizona is $104,050 USD per year or $50.02 USD per hour. The median annual civil engineer pay was $99,590 in May 2024 nationally, which means Arizona’s civil engineers earn approximately 4.5% more than the national average. An encouraging sign for professionals considering the Grand Canyon State.
Salary Range Overview
Here’s where it gets interesting: the maximum salary of $266,115 represents a 344% increase over the median, suggesting exceptional earning potential for those who develop specialised skills and advance into senior positions. This wide range indicates significant opportunities for career growth and compensation increases based on expertise, location, and industry specialisation.
Factors Influencing Civil Engineer Salary
Required Educational Level
The data reveal a clear educational premium in civil engineering. While a bachelor’s degree provides solid earning potential, pursuing advanced education can significantly boost your compensation. Master’s degree holders earn 13% more than bachelor’s degree holders, while PhD holders command 23% more than those with bachelor’s degrees.
Civil engineering positions in Arizona predominantly require a civil engineering degree, with nearly three-quarters of positions listing a bachelor’s degree as the minimum requirement. However, getting a master’s degree goes a long way to making candidates stand out and improving earnings, particularly when tailored to specific specialisations like structural, environmental, or transportation engineering.
Required Years of Experience
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 11.88% | 88 |
| 1 year | 6.61% | 49 |
| 2 years | 12.28% | 91 |
| 3 years | 9.04% | 67 |
| 4 years | 14.98% | 111 |
| 5 years | 23.62% | 175 |
| 6 years | 5.53% | 41 |
| 8 years | 10.12% | 75 |
The most common experience requirement is 5 years (23.62% of positions), followed by 4 years (14.98%), indicating that mid-level professionals are in high demand. Nearly 12% of positions are available to new graduates, providing good entry opportunities for those starting their civil engineering career.
The data shows the most significant salary jump occurs between years 2 and 3, where civil engineers see their compensation increase by approximately 5.8%. Another notable increase happens at the 7-year mark, with salaries jumping 17% from year 6 to year 7. This suggests that the transition from junior to intermediate level (around year 3) and from intermediate to senior level (around year 7) represent critical career milestones for civil engineers in Arizona.
Remote Status
| Work Arrangement | Number of Positions | Average Annual Salary (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Onsite | 448 | $109,597 |
| Hybrid | 122 | $129,672 |
Interestingly, hybrid positions command an 18% salary premium over onsite roles. This trend reflects the value employers place on flexibility and the competitive advantage of offering remote work options. The biggest trend is employers want motivated employees. Given the pandemic and the inability to work in typical office settings, employers need employees that have the self-motivation and organizational skills to work remotely.
Seniority Level
The progression from entry-level to lead positions represents a 109% increase in compensation, highlighting the substantial value of experience and leadership capabilities in the civil engineering field. The similar compensation between Senior and Manager roles suggests that both technical expertise and management skills are valued equally in the market.
What’s particularly notable is the jump to Principal and Lead levels, which command premium salaries exceeding $163,000 annually. These roles typically require 10+ years of experience, Professional Engineer (PE) licensure, and demonstrated leadership in complex projects.
Cities with Highest Civil Engineer Salary in Arizona
| City | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Tempe | $149,106 | $71.69 |
| Chandler | $127,253 | $61.18 |
| Tucson | $117,792 | $56.63 |
| Phoenix | $117,416 | $56.45 |
| Gilbert | $116,250 | $55.89 |
| Mesa | $113,076 | $54.36 |
| Scottsdale | $109,998 | $52.88 |
| Glendale | $109,000 | $52.40 |
| Sahuarita | $104,000 | $50.00 |
Tempe emerges as the highest-paying city for civil engineers in Arizona, offering salaries that are 43% higher than the state median. This premium likely reflects the concentration of high-tech companies, major infrastructure projects, and proximity to Arizona State University, which creates demand for specialized engineering talent.
The Phoenix metropolitan area dominates the list, with 7 out of 9 cities located in the greater Phoenix region. This clustering suggests that urban areas with major infrastructure projects, population growth, and diverse industries provide the best compensation opportunities for civil engineers.
Top Paying Companies in Arizona
Here are the companies consistently offering above-average salaries for civil engineers in Arizona, representing some of the highest paying civil engineering jobs in the state:
| Company | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| WSP in the U.S | $192,000 | $92.31 |
| SLR Consulting | $190,000 | $91.35 |
| Jacobs | $177,107 | $85.15 |
| ERM | $166,876 | $80.23 |
| TRC Companies | $155,978 | $74.99 |
| Brown and Caldwell | $147,500 | $70.91 |
| Honeywell | $147,500 | $70.91 |
| Michael Baker International | $147,500 | $70.91 |
| TYLin | $146,600 | $70.48 |
| Horrocks | $142,500 | $68.51 |
| Trilon Group | $142,500 | $68.51 |
| Arcadis | $141,729 | $68.14 |
| GFT | $141,500 | $68.03 |
| Bestinfo Systems | $140,000 | $67.31 |
These organizations span diverse industry sectors including environmental consulting, infrastructure development, water resources, and specialized technical services. Our customers include WSP, Mark Thomas, Psomas, GHD, and AECOM, highlighting the presence of major engineering firms that value advanced technology and innovation.
WSP and SLR Consulting lead the compensation rankings, offering salaries that are 84-85% above the state median. These premium salaries reflect the specialized nature of environmental and infrastructure consulting work, which often requires advanced technical skills and significant project responsibility.
How to Maximise Your Civil Engineer Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis and current industry trends, we recommend the following strategies to optimise your civil engineering salary in Arizona:
- Pursue Strategic Advanced Education – While a bachelor’s degree opens doors, a master’s degree can increase earnings by 13% and significantly improve long-term earning potential
- Obtain Professional Engineer (PE) License – Make yourself marketable by obtaining your PE license as soon as possible and getting other certifications in your specialised area whenever possible
- Target the 2-3 Year Experience Mark – The most significant early-career salary increase occurs around this milestone
Key Skills to Develop:
- Technical Competencies: Building Information Modelling (BIM), AutoCAD, GIS software, structural analysis software
- Sustainability Focus: Green building design, renewable energy systems, sustainable materials
- Project Management: PMP certification, leadership skills, client relationship management
Explore our article detailing the most required Civil Engineering Skills in 2025
Future Trends in Civil Engineering Salaries
Employment of civil engineers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations. About 22,900 openings for civil engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
The civil engineering field in Arizona continues to evolve, with increasing focus on:
- Infrastructure Modernisation: Federal infrastructure investments like the IIJA will likely continue to benefit nonresidential building construction projects, including transportation, manufacturing, and utility facilities.
- Sustainable Design: The global green building materials market was valued at USD 26.6 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.4% from 2025 to 2030.
- Digital Innovation: Pre-construction engineering and on-site construction face complex challenges, with over $100 billion lost annually due to planning-related construction errors, and 92% of projects exceeding their budget or schedule. CivilGrid provides the first-of-its-kind dataset that de-risks and accelerates due diligence, engineering, and construction processes to combat these issues.
- Automation and Robotics: The construction robots market size is estimated at USD 442.49 million in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 909.53 million by 2030, with a CAGR of 15.5% during the forecast period.
Engineers who develop expertise in these emerging areas are likely to command premium salaries as Arizona industries compete for talent with specialised knowledge in sustainable design, smart infrastructure, and advanced construction technologies.
The data presented in this article were compiled through an analysis of 570 publicly available civil engineering positions in Arizona. Salaries, required education levels, experience expectations, seniority titles, and locations were extracted and analysed to identify trends and calculate average and median figures. The analysis provides the most current information available on civil engineer pay in Arizona.
Conclusion
The civil engineering profession offers strong earning potential across Arizona, with the median civil engineering salary reaching $104,050 USD annually. While education provides a foundation, experience, specialisation, and strategic career decisions significantly influence salary levels. Location choices, work arrangements, and industry selection have equally important impacts on total compensation.
For civil engineers looking to maximise their earning potential, a strategic approach combining technical skill development, professional certification, and leadership capabilities is essential. The substantial salary growth potential, from entry-level positions at $78,405 to lead positions exceeding $163,000, demonstrates that civil engineering offers a clear path to financial success.
But what if you’re already at the median salary? The data shows multiple pathways to advancement: pursuing hybrid work arrangements for an 18% boost, targeting high-paying cities like Tempe for a 43% increase, or developing specialised skills in emerging technologies. Understanding these salary trends and market dynamics will help you negotiate competitive compensation packages and advance your career effectively.
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