Civil Engineers pay range in Richmond
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $136,860 or more. The middle half of civil engineers in Richmond earn between $79,170 and $115,460.
- $73K10th
- $79K25th
- $91KMedian
- $115K75th
- $137K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $99,540 | $8,295 | $47.86 |
| Median | $91,300 | $7,608 | $43.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,170 | $6,598 | $38.06 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $115,460 | $9,622 | $55.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Civil Engineers pay in Richmond vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Civil engineers in Richmond earn 6% less than the Virginia average ($105,340) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($108,670). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $100,840.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $99,540 | $91,300 | $73,060 | $136,860 | 1,680 |
| Virginia | $105,340 | $97,120 | $74,000 | $150,710 | 11,350 |
| 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 Richmond
On the average salary of $99,540, a single filer in Richmond takes home about $73,947 a year, or $6,162 a month and $2,844 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 (2025 rules).
Is Richmond a good place for civil engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Richmond area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $99,540 buys what about $101,719 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Richmond ($51,460). A typical home costs $397,705, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Civil Engineers salary in other Virginia cities
Richmond ranks 6th of 9 Virginia metro areas for this job; Winchester pays the most ($105,860).
- Winchester$105,860
- Lynchburg$105,410
- Blacksburg$102,390
- Charlottesville$100,720
- Staunton$99,590
- Richmond$99,540
- Virginia Beach$98,600
- Roanoke$96,700
- Harrisonburg$92,720
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 Richmond: questions
How much do civil engineers make an hour in Richmond?
$47.86 an hour on average, and $43.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level civil engineers salary in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the civil engineers take-home pay in Richmond?
About $73,947 a year ($6,162 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $99,540.
Do civil engineers earn more in Richmond 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 Richmond, VA (40060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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