Are you considering a civil engineering career in Utah, or looking to benchmark your current compensation?
We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of 373 civil engineering positions across Utah to provide insights into the civil engineering compensation trends. This article details the Civil Engineer Salary in Utah 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 Utah
The median Utah civil engineer salary is $105,000 USD per year or $50.48 USD per hour. This figure provides insight into how much civil engineers make in Utah and serves as a benchmark for civil engineering salaries in the state.
Salary Range Overview
Factors Influencing Civil Engineer Pay
Educational Level
Here’s where it gets interesting… The rapidly growing economy in Utah and many parts of the country requires construction of new roads, houses, and commercial buildings. Civil engineers and civil engineering technicians are needed to build these projects.
This demand translates directly into compensation opportunities for civil engineers across all education levels.
The data reveals that while a bachelor’s degree is sufficient for most positions, pursuing advanced education can lead to significantly higher compensation. PhD holders earn over 35% more than bachelor’s degree holders, highlighting the impact of an advanced civil engineering degree on salary in Utah. Interestingly, this educational premium in Utah appears even more pronounced than in many other regions, likely reflecting the state’s emphasis on technical innovation and infrastructure development.
Years of Experience
But what if you’re already at the median? The data shows the most significant salary acceleration occurs between years 2 and 4, where civil engineers see their compensation jump by over 26%. This suggests that the transition from junior to intermediate level represents a critical career milestone for civil engineers in Utah, significantly impacting how much a civil engineer makes as they gain relevant work experience.
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 5.93% | 15 |
| 1 year | 7.51% | 19 |
| 2 years | 17.39% | 44 |
| 3 years | 10.67% | 27 |
| 4 years | 13.83% | 35 |
| 5 years | 18.58% | 47 |
| 6 years | 3.16% | 8 |
| 8 years | 14.23% | 36 |
This progression pattern aligns perfectly with Utah’s status as one of the fastest-growing states in the country. State leaders have taken steps to ensure the reliability of infrastructure systems as more people move here to enjoy Utah’s thriving communities, amazing outdoors, and high quality of life, creating sustained demand for experienced engineers who can handle complex projects.
Seniority Level
The progression from entry-level to manager represents a 121% increase in compensation, highlighting the value of experience and leadership capabilities in the civil engineering field. This data provides insights into the potential for career advancement and salary growth in the profession, including roles such as project engineer, structural engineer, and engineering manager.
We know career progression can feel overwhelming, but here’s the encouraging news: Utah’s infrastructure boom creates multiple pathways to advancement. This high grade is attributed to the largest investment ever in Utah’s transportation funding, with over $14 billion committed to upgrades and new construction over the next six years.
This massive investment means more senior positions will be created, not just filled, offering opportunities for civil engineers to enhance their civil engineering compensation as they progress in their careers.
Remote Work
An interesting trend emerges when we examine remote work arrangements:
| Work Arrangement | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | $124,118 | 88 |
| Onsite | $108,470 | 282 |
This 14% salary premium for hybrid work arrangements reflects the evolving nature of civil engineering work, where design, planning, and project management tasks can often be performed remotely, while site visits and inspections require physical presence.
Location
| City | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Holladay | $147,822 | $71.07 |
| Pleasant Grove | $142,188 | $68.36 |
| St George | $131,840 | $63.39 |
| Salt Lake City | $127,781 | $61.43 |
| Riverdale | $118,333 | $56.89 |
| Draper | $115,000 | $55.29 |
| Kaysville | $115,000 | $55.29 |
| Murray | $112,621 | $54.14 |
| Lehi | $105,000 | $50.48 |
| Richfield | $104,167 | $50.08 |
Holladay surprisingly leads with the highest civil engineering salaries in Utah, offering significantly higher civil engineering wages than other metropolitan areas. This may be attributed to the concentration of high-end residential and commercial development projects in the area, which heavily rely on civil engineering expertise. The data also provides insights into regional salary variations, with northern Utah cities like Pleasant Grove and Salt Lake City offering competitive compensation packages.
The geographic salary distribution reflects Utah’s unique development patterns. Utah continues to grow, with the population expected to double by the year 2060. Utah’s economy is consistently ranked among the best in the nation, which attracts new residents and economic opportunities. This population growth isn’t uniform across the state, creating salary premiums in high-growth corridors.
Top Paying Companies in Utah
Here is a list of the top companies that consistently offer above-average salaries for civil engineers in Utah, representing some of the highest paying civil engineering jobs in the state:
| Company | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Haley & Aldrich | $207,500 | $99.76 |
| Metric Geo | $170,000 | $81.73 |
| WSP in the U.S | $169,484 | $81.48 |
| ERM | $166,876 | $80.23 |
| Arcadis | $161,500 | $77.64 |
| Felsburg Holt & Ullevig | $155,000 | $74.52 |
| Jacobs | $147,822 | $71.07 |
| J-U-B ENGINEERS | $145,625 | $70.01 |
| Morson Talent (Canada & USA) | $145,600 | $70.00 |
| David Evans and Associates | $145,444 | $69.93 |
| HDR | $141,436 | $68.00 |
| Stantec | $137,850 | $66.28 |
| Michael Baker International | $134,582 | $64.71 |
| Horrocks | $134,091 | $64.47 |
| Bestinfo Systems | $125,000 | $60.10 |
These organizations span diverse industry sectors including environmental engineering consultancies, geotechnical firms, and multinational engineering services companies, indicating strong demand for civil engineering expertise across multiple specializations. The salary range among top employers shows that specialized skills in areas like environmental compliance, geotechnical analysis, and large-scale infrastructure projects command premium compensation.
Maximise Your Civil Engineer Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis, we recommend the following strategies to optimize your civil engineering salary in Utah:
- Pursue Advanced Education Strategically – While a bachelor’s degree opens doors, a master’s degree or PhD can increase your earning potential by 25-35%
- Focus on the 2-4 Year Experience Mark – The most significant salary increases occur at this career stage, with potential jumps of 25% or more
- Consider Geographic Opportunities – Cities like Holladay and Pleasant Grove offer premium compensation packages, often 20-40% above state median
- Obtain Professional Certifications – P.E. designation and specialized certifications in environmental, geotechnical, or structural engineering can boost earning potential
Key Skills to Develop:
- Technical Competencies: CAD tools (AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation), structural analysis software, hydraulic modeling
- Emerging Technologies: BIM (Building Information Modeling), GIS applications, drone surveying, sustainable design practices
- Software Skills: MATLAB, Python for engineering applications, project management software
Explore our article detailing the most required Civil Engineering Skills in 2025
The data presented in this article was compiled through an analysis of 373 publicly available civil engineering salaries in Utah. 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 up-to-date information on how much civil engineers make in Utah. This analysis complements the ASCE salary report, offering a localized perspective on civil engineering compensation.
Conclusion
The civil engineering profession offers strong earning potential across Utah, with the median civil engineering salary reaching $105,000 USD annually. While education provides a foundation, experience and specialization significantly influence salary 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. Today UDOT announced 152 new construction projects worth $1.68 billion will start this year, with another 145 continuing construction.
This massive infrastructure investment creates unprecedented opportunities for career advancement and salary growth in the civil engineering career path.
Understanding salary trends and market dynamics will help you negotiate competitive compensation packages and advance your career effectively in Utah’s thriving engineering market. Tools like the ASCE salary calculator can provide additional insights into industry standards and help you benchmark your civil engineering compensation.
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