Are you considering a civil engineering career in Illinois, or looking to benchmark your current compensation against the market?
We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of over 718 civil engineering compensation data across Illinois to give you the insights you need to navigate your career with confidence. This article details the Civil Engineer Salary in Illinois and Civil Engineer wage landscape for 2025, exploring how much civil engineers make and the key factors that influence compensation.
Average Civil Engineer Salary in Illinois
The median Civil Engineer salary in Illinois is approximately $85,000 per year, with sources reporting ranges from $80,113 to $91,205 annually. This translates to roughly $38-44 per hour, providing insight into how much civil engineers make in Illinois and serving as a benchmark for engineering salaries in the state.
Salary Range Overview
The majority of Civil Engineer salaries currently range between $65,400 (25th percentile) to $95,400 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $110,468 annually in Illinois. This data reveals significant opportunities for salary growth as you develop your skills and advance in your career.
Factors Influencing Civil Engineer Salaries
Educational Level
The education premium in civil engineering is substantial and represents one of the most impactful decisions you can make for your career trajectory:
Civil engineers typically require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or civil engineering technology, while a master’s degree or PhD is generally preferred or required for higher level positions.
Here’s where it gets interesting: Candidates with a Master of Engineering degree are typically paid higher salaries than candidates with only a civil engineering degree. The data shows that pursuing advanced education can increase your earning potential by nearly 50% compared to a bachelor’s degree alone.
Education Requirements Distribution
Civil engineering salaries are high, reflecting the field’s significant barriers to entry. A bachelor’s in engineering degree is considered a minimum qualification, although many firms strongly prefer candidates with internship experience.
Strategic Education Insight: The average starting salary for civil engineering graduates from top Illinois programs like the University of Illinois is $74,098 with an average signing bonus of $3,000. This represents a strong return on educational investment, especially considering the program’s #3 national ranking.
Years of Experience
Experience is where career momentum truly builds. The data reveals some fascinating patterns about when salary jumps occur:
Experience Requirements and Salary Progression
An entry-level Civil Engineer with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $67,071, while an early career Civil Engineer with 1-4 years of relevant work experience earns an average total compensation of $74,054.
The most significant salary acceleration occurs after the 5-year mark, when civil engineers typically transition from project contributors to project leaders. This inflection point often coincides with obtaining Professional Engineer (P.E.) licensure, which opens doors to higher-responsibility roles.
Seniority Level
Career progression in civil engineering follows a predictable but rewarding path:
Average Civil Engineer Salary by Seniority
The salary trajectory ranges from $82,381 per year (estimate) and goes up to $221,837 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
The progression from entry-level to senior represents more than just time served—it reflects the development of technical expertise, project management skills, and the ability to mentor junior engineers and civil engineering technicians. Successful engineers can earn a Professional Engineering (PE) license that indicates they are ready for more leadership responsibility, or they may choose to transition into a project manager role.
Location
Location strategy can significantly impact your earning potential. Here are the Illinois cities offering the most competitive Civil Engineering compensation:
Top Illinois Cities for Civil Engineer Compensation
| City | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) | Key Industries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $99,000 – $105,000 | $47.75 – $51.00 | Infrastructure, Transportation, High-rise |
| Homer Glen | $86,500 | $41.60 | Municipal, Development |
| Gridley | $85,200 | $40.95 | Agricultural, Rural Infrastructure |
| Aurora | $84,800 | $40.77 | Manufacturing, Transportation |
| Naperville | $84,500 | $40.62 | Corporate, Technology Infrastructure |
The average civil engineer salary in Chicago, IL is $99,317 per year or $47.75 per hour. Entry level positions start at $83,651 per year while most experienced workers make up to $135,000 per year.
Chicago stands out not just for salary levels, but for the diversity of opportunities. The city offers projects ranging from 150-acre mass grading of power plants, to detailed sewer and grading work of complex commercial, industrial, and municipal projects. This variety accelerates skill development and creates multiple career pathways.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: While Chicago offers the highest salaries, remember to factor in cost of living. The average salary variation between top cities is relatively small at 3%, so the possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary.
Top Paying Companies in Illinois
Here are the companies consistently offering above-market compensation for civil engineers in Illinois:
Highest Paying Employers
| Company | Focus Area | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burns & McDonnell | Infrastructure, Energy | $120,000+ | $57.69+ |
| Kimley-Horn | Transportation, Municipal | $115,000+ | $55.29+ |
| HBK Engineering | Civil, Environmental | $110,000+ | $52.88+ |
| AECOM | Global Infrastructure | $108,000+ | $51.92+ |
| Jacobs Engineering | Government, Infrastructure | $105,000+ | $50.48+ |
| Primera Engineers | Multi-disciplinary | $102,000+ | $49.04+ |
Top paying companies in Government & Public Administration for Civil Engineer are US Army Corps of Engineers and Illinois Department of Transportation. Top paying companies in Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services for Civil Engineer are Burns & McDonnell, Kimley-Horn, and Primera Engineers.
Strategic Company Analysis: These organizations span diverse industry sectors, including nonresidential building construction, indicating strong demand for civil engineering expertise across multiple industries. Government positions often provide excellent benefits and job security, while private consulting firms typically offer higher base salaries and faster advancement opportunities.
How to Maximize Your Civil Engineer Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis, here are the strategic moves that can significantly boost your earning potential:
1. Pursue the P.E. License Strategically
To make as much money as possible as you move through your civil engineering career, make sure that you follow the correct steps to be properly licensed. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering and Principles and Practice of Engineering exams, and four years of experience, which allows you to get your professional engineer license.
2. Consider Advanced Education Early
If you’re looking to gain a deeper understanding of civil engineering and improve your career options, it’s worth considering another two years of schooling to pursue a master’s degree. Holding a graduate degree can help you unlock higher wages and apply for more senior-level positions. Civil engineers in the 90th percentile of earners (typically, those with a master’s degree and the work experience that comes with it) can earn up to $144,810/year.
3. Build Project Management Skills
A master’s degree is also all-but-required to become an engineering manager. These high-level civil engineers coordinate a firm’s civil engineering projects, earning a typical salary of $149,530/year.
Key Skills to Develop:
- AutoCAD, Civil 3D, MicroStation
- STAAD Pro, SAP2000 for structural analysis
- HEC-RAS for hydraulic modeling
- ArcGIS for geographic information systems
Explore our article detailing the most required Civil Engineering Skills in 2025
Future Trends in Civil Engineering Salaries
The civil engineering field in Illinois is evolving rapidly, with several trends driving salary growth:
Infrastructure Investment Boom
Illinois is investing heavily in infrastructure modernization, creating high-demand specializations in:
- Bridge rehabilitation and replacement
- Smart transportation systems
- Green infrastructure and stormwater management
- Resilient design for climate adaptation
Technology Integration
Building Information Modeling trends in transportation engineering have highlighted the Illinois Tollway as an industry leader in 3D project deliverables. Engineers skilled in these technologies command premium salaries.
Sustainability Focus
With increasing environmental regulations and corporate sustainability commitments, civil engineers with expertise in green design, LEED certification, and renewable energy infrastructure are seeing accelerated salary growth.
Salary Negotiation and Market Reality Check
Here’s what you need to know about the current job market: Based on recent job posting activity, the Civil Engineer job market in Illinois is moderately active, but construction firms navigate a complex regulatory environment with strict building codes while managing rising costs and workforce challenges. 93% of construction leaders report that labor shortages are impacting operations, with 43% experiencing increased costs due to these shortages.
This creates opportunity: The talent shortage means qualified engineers have significant negotiating power. Focus on highlighting your unique value proposition, especially if you have experience with emerging technologies or high-demand specializations.
Conclusion
The civil engineering profession in Illinois offers robust earning potential and diverse career paths. The average salary for a civil engineer is $91,205 per year in Illinois, but your individual earning potential depends significantly on strategic career decisions around education, location, specialization, and professional development.
For civil engineers looking to maximize their earning potential, success comes from combining technical excellence with business acumen and staying ahead of industry trends. The most successful professionals understand that salary growth isn’t just about time served—it’s about continuous learning, strategic positioning, and adding measurable value to your organization and clients.
Whether you’re just starting your civil engineering career or looking to make your next strategic move, Illinois offers excellent opportunities for civil engineers who are willing to invest in their professional development and stay current with industry evolution.
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