There is a U.S Civil Engineer Shortage

The Bureau of Labor Statistics underscores the transformative shifts in America’s civil engineering landscape, projecting demands for 25,000 new civil engineers annually through this decade. This assessment fails to capture additional requirements stemming from recent policy implementation.

2024 Engineering Employment Statistics

Employment data reveals 327,950 civil engineers operating nationwide. The median annual compensation reached $101,160 in 2023. Professional Engineer (P.E.) license holders command $140,000 yearly, exceeding non-licensed peers by $42,000.

Architectural and engineering services lead employment figures with 176,160 positions. State agencies maintain 35,970 engineers, while local governments utilize 33,550 professionals.

Regional Distribution of Civil Engineers

Civil engineering salaries in the United States vary widely by region. As of May 2023, the national median annual wage for civil engineers was about $95,890 bls.gov. Generally, coastal and urban states tend to offer higher pay, while more rural or low-cost areas offer lower salaries. For example, West Coast and Northeast states often top the pay scales, whereas parts of the Midwest and South tend to be closer to or below the national average ksjbam.com. These differences are largely driven by regional cost of living, demand for infrastructure projects, and supply of engineers ksjbam.com

California (CA)

• Average Salary: Approximately $115,100 per year – among the highest in the nation careerschoolnow.org.
• Highest-Paying Metro: The San Francisco Bay Area leads with an average around $125,990 annually bls.gov, reflecting the region’s high cost of living and booming tech/infrastructure development. Other California metros like Los Angeles also offer high salaries (often in the $100K+ range).
• Key Factors/Trends: California’s high salaries correspond to its high cost of living and large urban centers. The state’s many large cities and significant infrastructure needs drive up demand (and pay) for civil engineers ksjbam.com. In short, employers must offer more to attract talent in pricey areas and to meet the intense demand for transportation, water, and building projects.

New York (NY)

• Average Salary: About $113,610 per year on average statewide bls.gov, placing New York near the top nationally.
• Highest-Paying Metro: The New York City metropolitan area is the prime driver of high salaries – civil engineers in the NYC metro earn roughly $117,900 on average annually bls.gov. This is significantly higher than in upstate NY; for example, median salaries in Buffalo or Rochester are on the order of ~$75–78K novatr.com, well below NYC levels.
• Key Factors/Trends: Cost of living and urban infrastructure are major influences. New York City’s enormous cost of living and massive public works (skyscrapers, subways, bridges) necessitate higher pay scales to attract engineers. Upstate New York, being more rural and affordable, sees lower salaries. The stark urban-rural split within NY highlights how local demand and living costs influence pay – engineers around NYC earn a premium, while those in smaller cities earn less in line with lower local costs.

Florida (FL)

• Average Salary: Approximately $101,660 per year bls.gov, slightly above the national average.
• Highest-Paying Metro: Interestingly, some smaller Florida metros outpace larger cities in pay. For instance, the Naples–Immokalee–Marco Island area averages around $114,000 myplan.com, and state capital Tallahassee has reported averages in the $110K+ range in recent data indeed.com. In contrast, the major Miami–Ft. Lauderdale area averages closer to $91,000 myplan.com for civil engineers.
• Key Factors/Trends: Florida’s civil engineer salaries are moderate-to-high due to the state’s rapid growth and extensive development. Population growth and urban expansion (e.g. in Orlando, Tampa) create strong demand for infrastructure, which can boost wages. However, Florida’s overall cost of living is lower than NY or CA, keeping average pay a bit lower than those states. Notably, public-sector projects (like state government jobs in Tallahassee) or regions with fewer engineers may offer a pay premium to attract talent, explaining why some smaller cities top the pay list.

Texas (TX)

• Average Salary: Around $95,740 per year bls.gov, very close to the national median.
• Highest-Paying Metro: Major Texas cities offer salaries in the mid-to-upper five figures. For example, civil engineers in Dallas average about $96,000 annually indeed.com, and Houston is in a similar range. Some locales driven by the energy industry can be higher – e.g., civil engineers in the Corpus Christi area report averages above $100K (up to ~$125K) in some surveys indeed.com.
• Key Factors/Trends: Texas shows a balance of high demand and moderate cost of living. The state’s booming economy and large metro areas (Houston, Dallas, Austin) generate strong demand for civil engineers (especially for highways, oil & gas facilities, and urban development). However, Texas’s cost of living is lower than coastal states and it has a large supply of engineers, which keeps the state average salary around the national norm
  
  ksjbam.com. In summary, Texas pays well but not extreme – competitive salaries driven by industry growth (energy, construction) but tempered by a relatively lower cost environment and no state income tax.

Iowa (IA)

• Average Salary: About $94,270 per year on average workforce.iowa.gov

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• Highest-Paying Metro: Iowa’s metro differentials are smaller. A hub like Cedar Rapids sees civil engineer pay around $92,000 on average indeed.com, and Iowa City is similar (~$91K). Des Moines (the largest metro) also offers competitive wages (though some data show around $76–88K, likely reflecting more entry-level positions in the capital)indeed.com.
• Key Factors/Trends: Iowa is a lower-cost, more rural state, which generally means lower salaries than big coastal states. Fewer large-scale megaprojects and a lower cost of living translate to more modest pay. That said, Iowa’s civil engineer salaries are still solid relative to its living costs – indicating that employers must still pay enough to attract talent to the region. The absence of very large cities means there isn’t as dramatic a high-pay metro; instead, wages are relatively uniform across the state’s urban areas. Overall, Iowa’s civil engineers earn less than those in NY/CA, but when adjusted for cost of living the gap is much narrower.

Ohio (OH)

• Average Salary: Approximately $91,730 per year bls.gov.
• Highest-Paying Metro: Ohio’s big cities lead the way. Columbus and Cincinnati have average civil engineer salaries close to $98,000 per year indeed.com, making them the top-paying areas in the state. Cleveland is a bit lower (around $89K) indeed.com. These metropolitan areas drive the state’s upper range, whereas smaller cities and rural areas pay less.
• Key Factors/Trends: Ohio lies in the mid-range nationally – its salaries are a touch below the U.S. average, aligning with its moderate cost of living. Large infrastructure networks in cities (highways, manufacturing plants, water systems) keep demand steady, but the abundance of engineering graduates from local universities may keep supply healthy as well. Consequently, pay in Ohio’s metro areas is respectable but not soaring. State and local government projects (which are common in Ohio) often have constrained budgets, which can also cap salaries. In sum, Ohio offers stable, middle-of-the-road pay for civil engineers, with urban centers providing the best opportunities.

Colorado (CO)

• Average Salary: Roughly $103,420 per year bls.gov, making Colorado one of the higher-paying states for civil engineers.
• Highest-Paying Metro: The Denver metropolitan area – Colorado’s population center – sees average salaries in the mid-$95K range indeed.com. Nearby Colorado Springs is similar (around $96K) indeed.com. Moreover, some specialized or public-sector roles in affluent areas can top six figures (e.g., the City of Boulder’s civil engineers average about $102,500 a yearindeed.com).
• Key Factors/Trends: Colorado’s strong salaries reflect a high cost of living (especially housing in Denver/Boulder) and very high demand in recent years. The state has experienced rapid growth, straining roads, transit, and water systems – civil engineers are needed for expansion and maintenance. Additionally, Colorado has a high concentration of civil engineers relative to its job market bls.gov, suggesting a robust infrastructure sector. Geography plays a role too: engineers here tackle mountain highways, water projects, and growth in sprawling suburbs. The result is above-average pay, as employers compete for talent in a fast-growing, somewhat high-cost region.

Age Demographics in Civil Engineering

The profession’s age composition reflects substantial changes. The 25-34 bracket constitutes 28.2%, while 35-44 year professionals represent 23%. The 55-64 age group comprises 19%.

Retirement patterns pose crucial concerns. The 45-54 demographic declined from 24% to 15.7% between 2016 and 2020. Early-career professionals aged 20-24 maintain steady representation at 7.8%.

The field shows evolving diversity metrics. Female representation advanced to 14% from 11% since 2016. Asian American participation grew from 10.4% to 12.2% between 2016 and 2020.

The geopolitical strategy particularly affects positions demanding 10-15 years of expertise. The 2008-09 economic downturn contributed to reduced enrollment. The pandemic prompted experienced professionals to exit early, intensifying staffing demands. Engineering organizations face mounting operational hurdles. Reports indicate project rejections due to technical constraints. This regulatory environment impacts delivery schedules and professional standards across the sector.