Civil Engineers pay range in Denver
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $167,090 or more. The middle half of civil engineers in Denver earn between $84,410 and $135,030.
- $79K10th
- $84K25th
- $105KMedian
- $135K75th
- $167K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $116,830 | $9,736 | $56.17 |
| Median | $104,710 | $8,726 | $50.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $84,410 | $7,034 | $40.58 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $135,030 | $11,252 | $64.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Civil Engineers pay in Denver vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Civil engineers in Denver earn about the same as the Colorado average ($114,460) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($108,670). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $100,840.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $116,830 | $104,710 | $78,930 | $167,090 | 9,130 |
| Colorado | $114,460 | $101,420 | $76,810 | $165,230 | 13,290 |
| United States | $108,670 | $100,840 | $68,240 | $163,220 | 367,840 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Civil Engineers salary after taxes in Denver
On the average salary of $116,830, a single filer in Denver takes home about $86,588 a year, or $7,216 a month and $3,330 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Denver a good place for civil engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Denver area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.8), so the average $116,830 buys what about $110,444 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Denver ($62,320). A typical home costs $573,221, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Civil Engineers salary in other Colorado cities
Denver ranks 1st of 6 Colorado metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Denver$116,830
- Pueblo$110,330
- Colorado Springs$106,010
- Fort Collins$102,920
- Greeley$99,390
- Grand Junction$96,780
Highest-paying cities for civil engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($137,910).
- San Jose, CA$137,910
- San Francisco, CA$136,350
- Napa, CA$130,620
- Sacramento, CA$129,650
- Redding, CA$124,340
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Civil Engineers salary in Denver: questions
How much do civil engineers make an hour in Denver?
$56.17 an hour on average, and $50.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level civil engineers salary in Denver?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $84,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the civil engineers take-home pay in Denver?
About $86,588 a year ($7,216 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $116,830. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do civil engineers earn more in Denver than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($108,670).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2051; area Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (19740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 17.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.40, this job is 2.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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