Civil Engineers pay range in State College
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $133,270 or more. The middle half of civil engineers in State College earn between $75,590 and $117,870.
- $64K10th
- $76K25th
- $96KMedian
- $118K75th
- $133K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $97,430 | $8,119 | $46.84 |
| Median | $96,110 | $8,009 | $46.21 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,590 | $6,299 | $36.34 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $117,870 | $9,822 | $56.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Civil Engineers salary after taxes in State College
On the average salary of $97,430, a single filer in State College takes home about $74,381 a year, or $6,198 a month and $2,861 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is State College a good place for civil engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the State College area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.8), so the average $97,430 buys what about $100,690 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in State College ($49,220). A typical home costs $353,680, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Civil Engineers salary in other Pennsylvania cities
State College ranks 10th of 15 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($105,810).
- Philadelphia$105,810
- Reading$103,700
- Pittsburgh$102,710
- Allentown$102,460
- Erie$98,780
- Lancaster$98,580
- Scranton$98,480
- Harrisburg$98,380
- York$97,820
- State College$97,430
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Civil Engineers salary in State College: questions
How much do civil engineers make an hour in State College?
$46.84 an hour on average, and $46.21 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level civil engineers salary in State College?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the civil engineers take-home pay in State College?
About $74,381 a year ($6,198 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $97,430. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do civil engineers earn more in State College than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($109,384).
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 State College, PA (44300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.00, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.