What the numbers say
The median Civil Engineer in Hawaii earned $94,970 in 2024, about 1.3% below the national median of $96,198. That gap is narrow enough to be almost statistical noise, but it matters once you factor in what the money buys.
Hawaii's cost-of-living index sits at 113.2, meaning everyday expenses run roughly 13% above the US baseline. In purchasing terms, $94,970 in Honolulu stretches about as far as $83,900 would on the mainland. That reframes the near-parity headline: Hawaii's civil engineers are effectively paid less in real terms than the national median suggests.
The spread between the lowest and highest earners is worth looking at. The 10th percentile came in at $65,520 and the 90th at $131,090. Top earners make roughly twice what entry-level peers do, a range consistent with an occupation where experience, licensure level, and project type pull compensation in very different directions. Mid-career engineers clustered between $77,600 and $111,760.
On outlook, BLS projects employment for civil engineers to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, a rate classified as faster than average. Hawaii's ongoing infrastructure demands, including coastal resilience projects, aging water systems, and transportation work tied to tourism volume, give that projection some local texture, though the BLS figure is a national estimate.
With only 1,880 civil engineers employed statewide, Hawaii is a small market. That concentration can cut both ways: fewer openings in any given year, but also less competition when roles do appear.
Salary distribution
Where Hawaii civil engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $77,600 and $111,760, with a median of $94,970.
Civil Engineers in Hawaii: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 26 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $91,548. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 14 | $87,500 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $92,023 |
| Level III — experienced | 4 | $97,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $143,250 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Civil Engineers in Hawaii. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nan, Inc. | Project Engineer-Civil | 11 | $85,000 |
| KAI Hawaii Inc. | Structural Designer | 2 | $97,000 |
| AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | Construction Project Manager II | 2 | $92,096 |
| Nordic PCL Construction, Inc. | Assistant Superintendent | 1 | $108,000 |
| Yogi Kwong Engineers, LLC | Geotechnical Engineer | 1 | $69,742 |
| Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii | ARL COASTAL/OCEAN ENGINEER | 1 | $88,546 |
| Flatiron Dragados USA, Inc. | Design Build Coordinator | 1 | $97,353 |
| Coffman Engineers, Inc. | Structural Engineer | 1 | $95,500 |
| Spark Services | Civil Engineer | 1 | $142,800 |
| Flatiron Construction Corp. | Field Engineer II | 1 | $88,400 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Assistant Superintendent at Nordic PCL Construction, Inc.$108,000HonoluluDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25351-491961
- Geotechnical Engineer at Yogi Kwong Engineers, LLC$69,742HonoluluWage Level IDecided Sep 29, 2025I-200-25266-326581
- ARL COASTAL/OCEAN ENGINEER at Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii$88,546HonoluluWage Level IIDecided Aug 12, 2025I-200-25217-223286
- Design Build Coordinator at Flatiron Dragados USA, Inc.$97,353HonoluluWage Level IIIDecided Jul 7, 2025I-200-25178-135085
- Structural Engineer at Coffman Engineers, Inc.$95,500HonoluluWage Level IIDecided May 30, 2025I-200-25142-007192
- Civil Engineer at Spark Services$142,800HonoluluWage Level IIDecided May 30, 2025I-200-25142-009465
- Structural Designer at KAI Hawaii Inc.$97,000HawaiiWage Level IIIDecided May 23, 2025I-200-25136-985299
- Project Engineer - Civil at Nan, Inc.$85,000HiloWage Level IDecided May 7, 2025I-200-25121-925027
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Civil Engineers pay by experience level in Hawaii
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Hawaii over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Building and Construction
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.
- 02
Test soils or materials to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations, concrete, asphalt, or steel.
- 03
Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.
- 04
Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
- 05
Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications.
- 06
Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures, using computer-assisted design or drawing tools.
- 07
Provide technical advice to industrial or managerial personnel regarding design, construction, program modifications, or structural repairs.
- 08
Analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, or other topographical or geologic data.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+5.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Civil Engineers in Hawaii?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Civil Engineers in Hawaii is $94,970.
- How does Hawaii compare to the national median for Civil Engineers?
- The Hawaii median is -1.3% versus the BLS national figure of $96,198.
- What is the salary range for Civil Engineers in Hawaii?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $65,520 and the 90th-percentile at $131,090, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Civil Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 5.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Civil Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.