Civil engineer salaries are on the rise, but a gap still persists.

 

With the amount of infrastructure projects that need to be done across the country, the demand for civil, structural and construction engineers is in high demand.

Salaries are also on the rise for civil engineers, but a pay gap still exists, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

 

Civil Engineers in Demand, But Pay Gap Still Exists

 

Results of the 2017 ASCE Salary Survey find that the median pre-tax income for civil engineers was $101,000 in 2016. Base salaries, meanwhile, have risen between 4 and 5 percent each year since 2014.

“It’s an exciting time to be a civil engineer,” says Norma Jean Mattei, Ph.D., P.E., F.SEI, F.ASCE, now past-president of ASCE. “As professionals we take pride in our work as the stewards of the nation’s infrastructure, and value educational and technical advancement to continue as leaders.

“The salary survey results show our skills are appreciated by the market through compensation and other benefits. Not only is the profession a fun and exciting one, it’s also one where you can make a good livelihood.”

In addition to the strong salary figures, the survey reveals that most civil engineers receive comprehensive benefits packages. Typical benefits include basic health insurance and family coverage, 15 paid vacation days and eight holidays per year, paid parental leave and more.

The industry also values career advancement through paid professional dues, attendance at professional conferences and educational assistance programs. These benefits help cover the cost of training and education needed to increase earning potential.

The survey finds that increased earning potential is directly linked to attainment of advanced degrees and licensure. However, a pay gap persists for women and underrepresented minorities. The median salary for women is $83,000, compared with $101,400 for male respondents, about on par with the national average. Hispanic and African American respondents earned median incomes of $83,600 and $87,800, respectively.

“As a woman engineer, it’s disconcerting to see that a pay gap still exists for women and minorities in engineering,” Mattei says. “We’ve worked hard to make the profession more inclusive. We’ll study these survey results in detail to better understand the patterns and causes that might account for this difference, and work with employers to try to address this problem.”

Source: ASCE 2017 Salary Survey

 

 

ASCE: Discipline & Median Salaries

Discipline Median Salary

Construction $110,000

Utilities $108,000

Architectural $99,000

Environmental   $99,000

Transportation $98,000

Water $98,000

Civil         $93,000

Geotechnical $90,000

Structural         $90,000

Source: ASCE 2017 Salary Survey

 

 

ASCE: Education & Median Salaries

Education Level Salary

Bachelor of Arts or Science $93,000

Master of Arts or Science $101,000

Ph.D. $110,000

PE License $108,000

Source: ASCE 2017 Salary Survey