Civil Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer Salary

Side-by-side salary comparison for Civil Engineer and Mechanical Engineer — national medians, pay ranges, and city-by-city data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Mechanical Engineers earn more nationally

$102,320 median vs $99,590 — a $2,730/yr difference (3% higher)

Civil Engineer →

Median Salary

$99,590

Salary Range

$65,920 – $160,990

10th–90th percentile

Mechanical Engineer →

Median Salary

$102,320

Salary Range

$68,740 – $161,240

10th–90th percentile

+3% difference

Civil Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer Salary by City

CityCivil EngineerMechanical Engineer
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$130,310$116,370
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$129,260$147,730
Redding, CA$127,130$103,790
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$126,560$145,640
Kennewick-Richland, WA$121,170$120,260
California$118,450$126,370
Alaska nonmetropolitan area$116,680$130,910
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$116,440$129,190
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$115,970$112,310
Vallejo, CA$113,500$111,540
Salinas, CA$112,510$141,420
Rhode Island$112,250$115,270
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area$112,020$116,340
Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area$111,650$106,870
Baton Rouge, LA$110,460$132,850
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area$109,960$120,790
Decatur, AL$109,420$112,190
Stockton-Lodi, CA$108,010$103,330
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$108,010$110,390
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$107,930$117,930
Alaska$107,240$129,990
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$107,110$110,960
Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area$107,040$181,480
Lake Charles, LA$106,800$106,780
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$106,430$122,760

Green = higher-paying role in that city. Source: BLS OEWS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Civil Engineer or Mechanical Engineer pay more?▾

Mechanical Engineers earn more nationally, with a median salary of $102,320 versus $99,590 for Civil Engineer. That's a difference of about $2,730 per year.

What's the salary range for a Civil Engineer vs a Mechanical Engineer?▾

Civil Engineer salaries range from $65,920 (10th percentile) to $160,990 (90th percentile). Mechanical Engineer salaries range from $68,740 to $161,240.

Which career has more growth potential — Civil Engineer or Mechanical Engineer?▾

Salary growth depends on experience, specialization, location, and industry sector. Both roles show strong upper-quartile earnings. Check city-by-city data above — in some metros one role significantly outpaces the other, which often reflects local industry demand and competition.

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