Civil Engineer.
Washington DC.
$120,000
median salary, 20% above the national average
$95,000 to $154,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Orbyt estimates Civil Engineer pay in Washington DC at $120,000, within a range of $95,000 to $154,000. That is 20% above the national average. Washington DC's job market is shaped by the federal government, defense contractors, and a growing commercial tech sector. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Civil Engineer in Washington DC, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $101,780 for Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051) in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area, based on 8,470 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$77,970
25th percentile
$84,590
Median
$101,780
75th percentile
$129,830
90th percentile
$159,990
Workers surveyed
8,470
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051) rather than Civil Engineer specifically. The Washington DC range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 17-2051Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $108,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$78,000
to $96,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$102,000
to $126,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$132,000
to $156,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$150,000
to $186,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $31,000 to the total package.
Base
$120,000
Equity
$18,000
Bonus
$11,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $151,000
How Washington DC compares.
Washington DC, DC
$120,000
Cost of living: 25% above average
National Average
$100,000
Washington DC is $20,000 above
Civil Engineer salary by city.
Salary by role in Washington DC.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for Civil Engineer roles in Washington DC, here is what you are walking into. Washington DC's job market is shaped by the federal government, defense contractors, and a growing commercial tech sector. Cybersecurity, cloud computing, and consulting firms drive demand for cleared professionals. The region's stability, combined with high government pay scales, creates a salary floor that pulls private sector compensation upward. PE licensure is nearly essential for advancement and adds significant salary premium. Specialization in transportation, water resources, or geotechnical engineering pays more than general site development. Geographic demand driven by infrastructure spending varies widely, with high-growth Sun Belt metros offering the best compensation packages.
Entry-level civil engineers (EIT) start at $68,000 to $78,000. Licensed PEs earn $86,000 to $112,000 after four to six years. Project managers reach $110,000 to $145,000, with principals at engineering firms earning $150,000 to $200,000 or more. In Washington DC, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 25% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Consulting firms offer bonuses of 5 to 10% tied to project billing targets. Government civil engineers receive pension benefits, step increases, and strong job security. Many firms cover PE exam costs and provide annual professional development stipends. And on the tax side: dC income tax rates reach 10.75% for high earners. Maryland and Virginia residents working in DC face their own state taxes. Choose your residence jurisdiction carefully to optimize net pay. When someone quotes you $120,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: A security clearance is your strongest negotiation asset. Cleared professionals in DC command 20 to 30% premiums, and transferring your clearance to a new employer saves them significant time and cost. The range for Civil Engineers in Washington DC runs from $95,000 to $154,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
Civil Engineer salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Washington DC.
Related salary pages
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Civil Engineer Salary in Washington DC, DC." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/civil-engineer/washington-dc
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