Civil Engineers pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $132,290 or more. The middle half of civil engineers in Memphis earn between $78,400 and $126,440.
- $66K10th
- $78K25th
- $96KMedian
- $126K75th
- $132K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $100,460 | $8,372 | $48.30 |
| Median | $96,100 | $8,008 | $46.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,400 | $6,533 | $37.69 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $126,440 | $10,537 | $60.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Civil Engineers pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Civil engineers in Memphis earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($103,340) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($108,670). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $100,840.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $100,460 | $96,100 | $66,440 | $132,290 | 780 |
| Tennessee | $103,340 | $95,910 | $65,090 | $154,100 | 5,790 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $100,460, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $79,504 a year, or $6,625 a month and $3,058 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $79,504 | $6,625 |
| Working in MS | $76,217 | $6,351 |
| Working in AR | $75,987 | $6,332 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for civil engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $100,460 buys what about $108,984 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Civil Engineers salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 5th of 8 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Chattanooga pays the most ($109,060).
- Chattanooga$109,060
- Knoxville$107,580
- Nashville$104,980
- Clarksville$101,460
- Memphis$100,460
- Jackson$98,380
- Johnson City$97,110
- Kingsport$94,030
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 Memphis: questions
How much do civil engineers make an hour in Memphis?
$48.30 an hour on average, and $46.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level civil engineers salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the civil engineers take-home pay in Memphis?
About $79,504 a year ($6,625 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $100,460. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do civil engineers earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
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