Are you considering a civil engineering career in Virginia, or wondering if your current compensation reflects your true market value in the field of engineering?
We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of 922 civil engineering positions across Virginia to provide insights into the civil engineering salary landscape. This article details wage structures and Civil Engineer Salary in Virginia for 2025, exploring how much civil engineers make and the key factors that influence civil engineer pay as revealed by the data.
Average Civil Engineer Salary in Virginia
The median civil engineering salary in Virginia is $109,200 USD per year or $52.50 USD per hour. This figure provides insight into how much civil engineers make in Virginia and serves as a benchmark for engineering salaries in the state. For a more detailed breakdown, you can refer to the ASCE salary calculator or the latest ASCE salary report.
Salary Range Overview
Factors Influencing Civil Engineer Salaries
Educational Level
Here’s where it gets interesting: while a civil engineering degree at the master’s level provides a salary premium of approximately 10% over a bachelor’s degree, this difference is notably smaller than in many other engineering disciplines. This suggests that in Virginia’s civil engineering market, relevant work experience and professional licensure may carry more weight than advanced degrees alone. The relatively modest education premium indicates that professionals can achieve competitive salaries through alternative paths like obtaining their Professional Engineer (PE) license or developing specialized expertise in high-demand areas such as nonresidential building construction.
Work Flexibility
In today’s evolving workplace, remote work options have become a crucial factor in compensation packages. Our data reveals a fascinating trend:
| Work Arrangement | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Onsite | $111,703 | 668 |
| Remote | $117,312 | 20 |
| Hybrid | $120,435 | 234 |
The data shows that hybrid positions command the highest average salaries, nearly 8% more than traditional onsite roles. This premium likely reflects companies competing for top talent by offering both flexibility and competitive compensation. However, with only 2.2% of positions being fully remote, civil engineering remains a largely in-person profession in Virginia, particularly for roles involving site inspections and field work.
Years of Experience
The salary progression data reveals a critical insight: the jump from entry-level to 1 year of experience represents a 10% increase, but the real game-changer occurs at the 5-year mark, where salaries increase by another 23%. This suggests that civil engineers in Virginia should focus on gaining diverse project experience in their first five years to maximize their earning potential. The plateau between years 3-4 might indicate this is an ideal time to pursue PE licensure or make a strategic job change.
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 8.32% | 39 |
| 2 years | 21.32% | 100 |
| 3 years | 16.84% | 79 |
| 4 years | 15.78% | 74 |
| 5 years | 37.74% | 177 |
Seniority Level
The progression from internship to manager represents a remarkable 253% increase in compensation. But what if you’re already at the median? The data shows that moving from mid-level to senior represents the single largest salary jump (32% increase), highlighting the importance of developing leadership and organizational skills and taking on project management responsibilities around the 5-7 year mark of your career.
Location
| City | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Dulles | $360,000 | $173.08 |
| Springfield | $200,000 | $96.15 |
| Mineral | $160,933 | $77.37 |
| Herndon | $143,675 | $69.07 |
| Radford | $142,093 | $68.31 |
| Vienna | $130,778 | $62.88 |
| Hopewell | $130,700 | $62.84 |
| Arlington | $130,405 | $62.69 |
| Reston | $127,690 | $61.39 |
| Fairfax | $118,622 | $57.03 |
| Alexandria | $114,365 | $54.98 |
| Richmond | $111,632 | $53.67 |
The geographical salary distribution reveals a fascinating pattern: Dulles leads with an extraordinary average of $360,000, more than triple the state median. This exceptional figure likely reflects the concentration of specialized infrastructure projects related to Dulles International Airport expansion and the region’s ongoing development as a tech and government contracting hub.
Northern Virginia dominates the top-paying locations, with seven of the top ten cities clustered around the Washington, D.C. metro area. This concentration makes sense given the region’s robust federal contracting opportunities, rapid infrastructure development, and higher cost of living. However, Richmond, the state capital, sits near the median at $111,632, suggesting that cost-of-living adjusted salaries might be more favorable outside the Northern Virginia corridor.
Top Paying Companies in Virginia
Understanding which companies offer the highest civil engineering salaries can significantly impact your career trajectory. Our analysis reveals a diverse mix of employers leading the compensation race:
Highest Paying Employers for Civil Engineers
| Company | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Ramaniyam Real Estate Private | $360,000 | $173.08 |
| The Planet Group | $200,000 | $96.15 |
| Meta | $186,500 | $89.66 |
| Westinghouse Electric | $176,800 | $85.00 |
| Amazon Web Services (AWS) | $170,700 | $82.07 |
| Kleinfelder | $168,397 | $80.96 |
| Pyramid Consulting | $161,200 | $77.50 |
| Langan Engineering & Environmental Services | $157,500 | $75.72 |
| FootBridge | $156,000 | $75.00 |
| Serco | $150,800 | $72.50 |
The salary landscape reveals an intriguing trend: tech giants and real estate development firms are dramatically outpacing traditional engineering consultancies. Companies like Timmons Group, Clark Nexsen, AECOM, Dewberry, and HDR are among the top civil engineering companies in Virginia with proven track records of delivering successful projects, yet they don’t appear in the highest-paying tier.
We know job searching can be overwhelming, but here’s an encouraging insight: the variety of high-paying employers shows that civil engineers in Virginia aren’t limited to traditional consulting firms. Whether you’re passionate about sustainable infrastructure, cutting-edge technology facilities, or large-scale development projects, there’s likely a high-paying opportunity that aligns with your interests.
How to Maximize Your Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis, we recommend the following strategies to optimise your civil engineering salary in Virginia:
- Focus on PE Licensure: Professional Engineer (PE) licensure is key to maximising earnings, particularly for those aiming for senior positions
- Consider Advanced Degrees Carefully: While a master’s degree offers a 10% salary premium, the ROI may be better spent gaining experience and certifications
- Develop Specialised Skills: Building Information Modelling (BIM) is transforming infrastructure projects and can open doors to higher-paying positions
Explore our detailed article on the Civil Engineering Skills Required in 2025
Future Trends in Civil Engineering Salaries
The Vecellio Construction Engineering and Management Program at Virginia Tech emphasizes that leading industry trends and technological innovation are hallmarks of internationally prominent programs. Virginia’s civil engineering field is evolving rapidly, with several trends likely to impact future salaries:
Emerging Opportunities:
The intersection of traditional civil engineering with technology is creating hybrid roles that command higher salaries. Engineers who can bridge the gap between physical infrastructure and digital systems are particularly valuable in Virginia’s tech-heavy economy. This includes roles that combine civil engineering expertise with knowledge of civil engineering technicians’ work, creating a more comprehensive approach to project management.
The data presented in this article was compiled through an analysis of 922 publicly available civil engineering salaries in Virginia. 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 civil engineering compensation.
Conclusion
The civil engineering profession in Virginia offers strong earning potential with a median salary of $109,200 USD annually. While this represents solid middle-class earnings, the data reveals significant opportunities for those willing to be strategic about their career development.
The path to maximizing your civil engineering salary involves more than just accumulating years of experience. Success requires strategic positioning in high-growth sectors, continuous skill development, and potentially stepping outside traditional engineering firms into tech, real estate development, or specialized consulting roles.
For civil engineers at any career stage, Virginia’s diverse economy—spanning government contracting, technology infrastructure, and traditional engineering—provides multiple pathways to competitive compensation. Understanding these options and aligning your skills with market demands will help you navigate toward the upper ranges of the salary spectrum. Whether you’re just starting your civil engineering career or looking to advance, staying informed about industry trends and salary benchmarks is crucial for making informed decisions about your professional future.
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