What the numbers say
The median Civil Engineer in Massachusetts earned $104,450 in 2024, about 8.6% above the US median of $96,198. That is a real premium, though not a massive one by coastal-state standards.
The spread between bottom and top earners is worth attention. At the 10th percentile, the figure is $77,880. At the 90th, it reaches $167,370, more than twice as much. That range reflects how much experience and specialization matter in this field. A recent graduate and a senior project manager working on the same highway expansion can land in very different places on that scale.
Massachusetts has a cost-of-living index of 109.6 against the national baseline of 100. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the state median of $104,450 translates to roughly $95,300 in national-baseline dollars. That nearly closes the gap with the US median. The nominal premium is real, but day-to-day purchasing power here runs closer to the national figure than the headline numbers suggest.
BLS projects civil engineering employment to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, which puts the occupation in the faster-than-average category. Massachusetts draws on that growth through ongoing public transit, water infrastructure, and coastal resilience work, the kinds of projects that sustain steady hiring across project cycles rather than concentrating demand in one sector spike.
Salary distribution
Where Massachusetts civil engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $83,250 and $130,080, with a median of $104,450.
Civil Engineers in Massachusetts: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 141 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $95,141. 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 | 52 | $81,116 |
| Level II — qualified | 36 | $98,677 |
| Level III — experienced | 24 | $114,803 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 14 | $135,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Civil Engineers in Massachusetts. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. | Project Consultant | 7 | $95,924 |
| ATANE Engineers, P.C. | Construction Engineering Inspector | 7 | $75,878 |
| AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | Civil Engineering III (Project Engineer) | 4 | $117,750 |
| STV Incorporated | Engineering Specialist, Civil Engineering | 4 | $95,774 |
| Stantec Consulting Services Inc. | Water Reuse EIT | 4 | $98,758 |
| Green International Affiliates, Inc. | Technical Manager I | 4 | $98,880 |
| PMA Consultants, LLC | Senior Scheduler Engineer | 4 | $99,320 |
| GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. | Assistant Project Manager | 3 | $97,011 |
| WSP USA Inc. | Traffic Engineer | 3 | $91,042 |
| Leggat McCall Properties LLC | Project Manager | 3 | $126,922 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Civil Engineering III (Project Engineer) at AECOM Technical Services, Inc.$115,500ChelmsfordDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25351-491735
- Engineering Specialist, Civil Engineering at STV Incorporated$98,654BostonDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25345-474135
- Team Lead - Civil Engineer at ATANE Engineers P.C.$139,360BostonDecided Nov 26, 2025I-200-25323-422816
- Associate Specialist at University of California, Santa Cruz$99,700OnsetDecided Nov 20, 2025I-200-25318-407258
- Civil Engineer at GEI Consultants$116,688FranklinDecided Nov 19, 2025I-200-25316-400889
- Assistant Project Manager at GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.$92,040NorwoodDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25309-378185
- Traffic Engineer at WSP USA Inc.$91,042WorcesterDecided Nov 7, 2025I-200-25273-350658
- Structural Engineering IV at AECOM Technical Services, Inc.$145,615BostonDecided Nov 7, 2025I-200-25273-348663
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 Massachusetts
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.
Civil Engineers specialties in Massachusetts
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 75 certified offers. The most common variant is Project Manager at a median of $112,083.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Manager | GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. | 18 | $112,083 |
| Engineer | AIR Worldwide Corporation | 9 | $92,893 |
| Project Engineer | Northstar Project and Real Estate Services | 9 | $92,893 |
| Structural Engineer | ATANE Engineers, P.C. | 7 | $109,907 |
| Civil Engineer | TranSystems Corporation | 6 | $98,447 |
| Project Consultant | Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. | 5 | $92,893 |
| Senior Consultant | J.S. Held LLC | 4 | $137,286 |
| Construction Engineering Inspector | ATANE Engineers, P.C. | 4 | $75,878 |
| Professional | Kleinfelder, Inc. | 4 | $75,878 |
| Engineering Specialist, Civil Engineering | STV Incorporated | 3 | $92,893 |
| Technical Manager | Green International Affiliates, Inc. | 3 | $100,000 |
| Design Engineer | BlueWave Project Development, LLC | 3 | $78,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Civil Engineers in Massachusetts, by industry
Median offered wage across 103 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $92,893.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. | 94 | $92,893 |
| Finance and insurance | AIR Worldwide Corporation | 2 | $116,994 |
| Real estate | Triumph Modular Incorporated | 2 | $111,428 |
| Energy and utilities | BlueWave Project Development, LLC | 2 | $84,375 |
| Education | University of California, Santa Cruz | 1 | $99,700 |
| Retail and wholesale | The Kent Fixture Corporation | 1 | $75,878 |
| Manufacturing | AbbVie Bioresearch Center Inc. | 1 | $128,445 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Massachusetts 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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Metro-level salary data for civil engineers in major Massachusetts metropolitan areas.
- Boston$104,750
Compare Civil Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Civil Engineers in Massachusetts?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Civil Engineers in Massachusetts is $104,450.
- How does Massachusetts compare to the national median for Civil Engineers?
- The Massachusetts median is +8.6% versus the BLS national figure of $96,198.
- What is the salary range for Civil Engineers in Massachusetts?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $77,880 and the 90th-percentile at $167,370, 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.