Are you considering a civil engineering career in North Carolina, or looking to benchmark your current compensation?
We’ve conducted a comprehensive analysis of 903 civil engineering positions across North Carolina to provide insights into the civil engineer salary landscape. This article details the Civil Engineer Salary in North Carolina for 2025, exploring how much civil engineers make and the key factors that influence compensation as revealed by the data.
Average Civil Engineer Salary in North Carolina
The median North Carolina civil engineer salary is $107,500 USD per year or $51.68 USD per hour. This figure significantly exceeds the national median of $97,000, positioning North Carolina as a competitive market for civil engineering professionals and providing insight into how much civil engineers make in the state.
Salary Range Overview
Factors Affecting Civil Engineers Salaries
Educational Level
Average Civil Engineer Salary by Education Level
The data reveals that while a bachelor’s degree opens doors to most civil engineering positions, pursuing a master’s degree can lead to significantly higher compensation. Master’s degree holders earn nearly 20% more than their bachelor’s degree counterparts, highlighting the impact of advanced education on civil engineering salary in North Carolina.
Education Requirements Distribution
Here’s where it gets interesting, while over three-quarters of positions require only a bachelor’s degree, the salary premium for advanced education is substantial. This creates an opportunity for ambitious professionals to differentiate themselves in the job market through additional education. A civil engineering degree at any level can significantly impact your earning potential in this field.
Years of Experience
The salary progression tells a fascinating story. Notice the significant jump between the first and second year (nearly $17,000), followed by more modest increases until you hit the 4-year mark, where another substantial leap occurs. This suggests that civil engineers experience two critical career milestones: transitioning from new graduate to competent professional, and then from mid-level to senior contributor.
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 10.49% | 51 |
| 2 years | 23.46% | 114 |
| 3 years | 16.05% | 78 |
| 4 years | 14.61% | 71 |
| 5 years | 35.39% | 172 |
But what if you’re already at the median and wondering about your next move? The data shows that perseverance pays off; those with 7+ years of experience see their compensation jump to over $133,000, representing a 59% increase from entry-level positions. Relevant work experience plays a crucial role in advancing your civil engineering career and boosting your engineering salary.
Remote Work
| Work Arrangement | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | $113,491.50 | 186 |
| Remote | $113,280.50 | 12 |
| Onsite | $107,718.40 | 705 |
Here’s a surprising insight: despite the pandemic’s impact on remote work preferences, civil engineering remains predominantly an onsite profession, with 78% of positions requiring physical presence. However, the premium for flexible work arrangements is clear; hybrid and remote positions command roughly $6,000 more annually than onsite roles.
This trend reflects employers’ need for self-motivated employees who can work effectively in flexible arrangements, creating opportunities for engineers who can demonstrate strong remote collaboration skills. Developing organisational skills becomes crucial for success in these flexible work environments.
Seniority Level
The progression from internship to senior level represents a 176% increase in compensation, highlighting the value of experience and leadership capabilities in the civil engineering field. Interestingly, senior engineers out-earn managers by about $4,000 annually, suggesting that deep technical expertise can be as valuable as management responsibilities.
We know job searching can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to figure out where you fit in this hierarchy. If you’re currently earning below the mid-level range, focus on building the technical competencies and project leadership experience that will position you for advancement. The ASCE salary report can be a valuable resource for understanding industry standards and negotiating your civil engineering compensation.
Location
| City | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Huntersville | $180,960 | $87.00 |
| Hickory | $147,500 | $70.91 |
| Winston-Salem | $123,875 | $59.56 |
| Asheville | $121,153.80 | $58.25 |
| Charlotte | $119,002.60 | $57.21 |
| Moore County | $115,903.50 | $55.72 |
| Kernersville | $115,500 | $55.53 |
| Cary | $112,948.90 | $54.30 |
| Benson | $112,500 | $54.09 |
| Greensboro | $110,374.10 | $53.06 |
| Leland | $110,000 | $52.88 |
| Wilson | $109,803.10 | $52.79 |
| Monroe | $108,379.30 | $52.11 |
| Wilmington | $107,577.10 | $51.72 |
| Raleigh | $105,396.10 | $50.67 |
Huntersville emerges as the undisputed leader for civil engineer compensation, offering salaries that are 68% higher than the state median. This premium likely reflects the town’s proximity to Charlotte’s economic activity while maintaining lower operating costs than the urban core.
What’s particularly intriguing is how smaller cities like Hickory and Moore County compete with major metropolitan areas. This reflects North Carolina’s distributed economic development and the critical infrastructure needs across the state, driven by significant infrastructure challenges, including $16.8 billion in drinking water needs and over 1,300 high-hazard dams.
For civil engineers considering relocation, these smaller markets might offer the perfect combination of competitive salaries and lower cost of living – a calculation that could significantly impact your quality of life.
Top Paying Companies in North Carolina
| Company | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Controll Systems | $180,960 | $87.00 |
| APM Terminals | $180,000 | $86.54 |
| HNTB | $167,199.60 | $80.38 |
| Jacobs | $152,700 | $73.41 |
| Job Juncture | $150,000 | $72.12 |
| Metric Geo | $150,000 | $72.12 |
| NPAworldwide | $150,000 | $72.12 |
| Sunshine Water Services | $145,000 | $69.71 |
| BlackRock Resources | $137,500 | $66.11 |
| Morson Talent | $135,200 | $65.00 |
| Randstad USA | $128,500 | $61.78 |
| Ultimate Staffing | $125,000 | $60.10 |
| Allied Staff Augmentation Partners | $124,800 | $60.00 |
| The Planet Group | $123,750 | $59.50 |
| Jobot | $123,579.50 | $59.41 |
The top-paying companies reveal several important trends. First, specialised firms and staffing agencies dominate the highest-paying positions, suggesting that niche expertise and contract work can command premium rates. Companies like HNTB and Jacobs – major engineering consultancies – offer competitive salaries that reflect their complex, high-value project portfolios.
APM Terminals’ presence highlights the importance of North Carolina’s ports and logistics infrastructure, while companies like Sunshine Water Services reflect the state’s significant water infrastructure challenges. These organisations span diverse industry sectors, including engineering consultancies, logistics, environmental services, and specialised technical services, indicating strong demand for civil engineering expertise across multiple industries, including nonresidential building construction.
Explore our article detailing the most required Civil Engineering Skills in 2025
How to Maximise Your Civil Engineer Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis, we recommend the following strategies to optimize your civil engineering salary in North Carolina:
- Pursue Advanced Education Selectively – While a bachelor’s degree opens doors, a master’s degree can increase your earning potential by nearly 20%
- Focus on the 2-Year Experience Mark – The most significant early-career salary increase occurs between years 1 and 2, making this a critical period for skill development
- Develop Hybrid Work Capabilities – With employers seeking self-motivated employees capable of remote work, demonstrating these skills can access higher-paying flexible positions
- Consider Roles as Civil Engineering Technicians – These positions can provide valuable experience and a stepping stone to higher-paying engineering roles
Future Trends in Civil Engineering Salaries
The civil engineer job market is expected to grow by 5.0% between 2022 and 2032, driven by aging infrastructure needs, growing populations requiring water system maintenance, and the trend toward renewable energy requiring structural analyses and permit documentation.
North Carolina’s infrastructure challenges create significant opportunities. With driving on poor roads costing each driver $500 annually, 9.3% of bridges rated structurally deficient, $16.8 billion in drinking water needs, and 1,307 high-hazard dams, the demand for skilled civil engineers will continue growing.
The data presented in this article was compiled through an analysis of 903 publicly available civil engineering salaries in North Carolina. 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 provides the most up-to-date information on how much civil engineers make in North Carolina, complementing resources like the ASCE salary calculator and ASCE salary report.
Conclusion
The civil engineering profession offers strong earning potential across North Carolina, with the median civil engineer salary reaching $107,500 USD annually – well above the national average. While education provides a foundation, experience, specialization, and location choices significantly influence salary levels.
For civil engineers looking to maximize their earning potential, a strategic approach combining technical skill development, professional certification, and market positioning is essential. The mandatory nature of infrastructure work translates into typically long-term job stability for civil engineering professionals, making this an excellent time to build a career in the field.
Understanding these salary trends and market dynamics will help you negotiate competitive compensation packages and advance your career effectively in North Carolina’s growing civil engineering market. Resources like the ASCE salary calculator can provide additional insights into industry standards and help you make informed decisions about your civil engineering career path.
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