Civil Engineers pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $167,360 or more. The middle half of civil engineers in Boston earn between $85,690 and $135,290.
- $80K10th
- $86K25th
- $108KMedian
- $135K75th
- $167K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $119,010 | $9,918 | $57.22 |
| Median | $107,670 | $8,972 | $51.76 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,690 | $7,141 | $41.20 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $135,290 | $11,274 | $65.04 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Civil Engineers pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Civil engineers in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($117,330) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($108,670). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $100,840.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $119,010 | $107,670 | $79,580 | $167,360 | 7,970 |
| Massachusetts | $117,330 | $106,730 | $78,280 | $165,590 | 9,450 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $119,010, a single filer in Boston takes home about $86,923 a year, or $7,244 a month and $3,343 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $92,554 | $7,713 |
| Working in MA | $86,923 | $7,244 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for civil engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $119,010 buys what about $109,924 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Civil Engineers salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$119,010
- Barnstable$113,420
- Pittsfield$111,760
- Worcester$108,770
- Springfield$106,410
- Amherst$104,740
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 Boston: questions
How much do civil engineers make an hour in Boston?
$57.21 an hour on average, and $51.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level civil engineers salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the civil engineers take-home pay in Boston?
About $86,923 a year ($7,244 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $119,010. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do civil engineers earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.25, this job is 1.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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